The Traffic

CAF Slaps Libya with Another Sanction Amid Airport Saga Appeal Against Nigeria—Will This Be the End?

By Achimi Muktari

Just days after filing an appeal to overturn CAF’s verdict on their botched AFCON qualifier against Nigeria, Libya finds itself in hot water again. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has hit the Libyan football body with a fresh set of penalties, including a $20,000 fine and two upcoming matches behind closed doors, adding more tension to an already explosive situation.

CAF’s Double Hammer on Libya

The latest sanction comes in the wake of Libya's appeal against the initial decision by CAF, which saw Nigeria awarded three points and three goals after an airport debacle involving the Super Eagles. During their journey to Benghazi for the October 15 AFCON qualifier, Nigeria’s national team had their flight rerouted to Al-Abraq Airport, where they were stranded for over 16 hours, forcing them to return home.

CAF ruled that Libya had violated several regulations in handling the Nigerian team’s arrival, leading to a forfeited match and a $50,000 fine. Libya, however, swiftly filed an appeal, seeking to reverse the points awarded to Nigeria.

Another Blow: CAF Targets Libyan Team Over Match Violence

As Libya attempts to fight off CAF’s ruling on the Nigeria incident, they were handed yet another penalty. A separate Libyan team has been fined $20,000 and ordered to play their next two games behind closed doors due to violent incidents during a recent match. This second punishment only piles on the country’s footballing woes, as tensions escalate between Libya and CAF.