Nigeria’s Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong has reacted over the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on the botched match day 4 encounter of the 2025 AFCON qualification series scheduled to be played by Libya and Nigeria in Benina on 15th October.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Disciplinary Board of CAF reveals the decision, awarding Nigeria, three points and three goals and fining Libya $50,000 as a result of the botched match day 4 encounter.
This is following the embarrassing incident which occurred when three-time African champions, Nigeria visited Benghazi for the AFCON 2025 qualifier second leg against the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.
The Super Eagles were forced to spend over 15 hours at the Al Abraq Airport without food or water in a hostage-like situation; which forced the game to be cancelled.
The CAF Disciplinary Board also slammed Libya with a 50,000 dollars to be paid within 60 days of notification of the present decision with all other and further motions or prayers for relief dismissed.
Reacting, Troost-Ekong wrote via X: “JUSTICE: CAF awards three points and three goals to Nigeria. Libya fined $50,000. Plane was diverted 300km from scheduled airport even when the pilot told them he was low on fuel. One step closer to our target AFCON 2025”.
Recall that Nigeria’s delegation to the qualifier slated to hold in Benghazi was left stranded for over 20 hours, following the diversion of their plane from Benghazi to Al Abaq airport, a three-hour drive away from their original destination in Benghazi; where the team were held hostage without food, water or internet services.
A statement by CAF Disciplinary Board in its ruling on Saturday, signed by the chairman, Ousmane Kane, said the Disciplinary Board ruled met and decided as follows:
“The Libya Football Federation is found to have breached Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
“The match No. 87 Libya v. Nigeria of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on 15 October in Benghazi) declared lost by forfeit by Libya (by a score of 3-0).
“The Libya Football Federation is ordered to pay a fine of USD 50,000. The fine is to be paid within 60 days of notification of the present decision. All other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed,” the statement said.
The implication is that Nigeria is now poised to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with two matches to spare.
With the decision, the Eagles now have 10 points from four matches, four points better than second-placed Benin Republic, while Rwanda have five points.
Bottom-placed Libya have only one point and are out of the running for qualification.
Victory or draw against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan on Nov. 14 (a Matchday 5 encounter) will land the Super Eagles a ticket to the finals in Morocco, December 2025/January 2026.