The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has formally lodged an appeal against the decision made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
This appeal follows CAF’s ruling, which awarded Nigeria a 3-0 victory in their scheduled 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights. The ruling was made after the cancellation of the Match Day 4 fixture that was initially set to take place on October 15 in Benina, Libya, due to severe disruptions that affected the Nigerian delegation's ability to participate in the match.
Reports from Libyan news source Al Wasat indicate that the LFF perceives the CAF decision as unfair and is determined to challenge it. The federation has sought the expertise of Tunisian lawyer Ali Abbas to assist in their appeal process, which underscores their commitment to overturning the ruling.
The Super Eagles encountered significant challenges leading up to the match, including having their flight diverted. This unfortunate incident resulted in the team being stranded at an abandoned airport for a lengthy 17-hour period, which ultimately prevented them from reaching the match venue on time.
In its ruling, CAF attributed the decision to award the game to Nigeria, in part, to Libya’s failure to provide the necessary logistical support to facilitate the match. As a consequence of the ruling, the LFF has also been fined $50,000, which must be paid within 60 days from the date of the announcement.
The outcome of Libya’s appeal remains to be seen, as they actively seek to reverse CAF's decision in hopes of having the fixture rescheduled. The LFF's commitment to pursuing this matter reflects the high stakes involved in the AFCON qualification process and the importance of fair competition on the continental stage.