The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has requested the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) and the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to submit documents related to the cancellation of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group D qualifying match between Libya and Nigeria.
The match, originally scheduled for October 15, was called off after a chaotic series of events involving the Super Eagles.
According to the Libyan media outlet, Libya Al-Ahrar Channel, CAF has given both football bodies a deadline of October 20 to provide the required documentation.
Nasser Al-Suwaie, the Secretary-General of the LFF, confirmed that a lawyer has been appointed to handle the case and defend Libya’s stance. He suggested potential collusion by certain CAF officials but maintained that the Libyan Federation’s position is firm.
Al-Suwaie emphasized that the decision to divert the Nigerian team’s flight to Al-Abraq Airport, far from the original landing site, was made by Libyan state authorities and had nothing to do with the LFF. He further insisted that Libya’s national sovereignty must be respected, distancing the federation from any wrongdoing.
The Super Eagles were stranded at Al-Abraq Airport for over 18 hours, during which they were allegedly denied food, water, and Internet access. Due to the security concerns and the extended delay, the Nigerian team pulled out of the fixture, citing the well-being of their players and staff.
CAF’s intervention seeks to uncover the events leading up to the cancellation, as the incident has raised concerns over the safety and organization of AFCON qualifying fixtures.
As the deadline approaches, both football associations will need to provide clear evidence to explain their roles in the debacle.