Troost-Ekong delighted, says CAF’s Libya verdict takes Super Eagles closer to AFCON 2025
Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong believes justice has been served and that the team is closer to securing the ticket to make their 21st appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations after returning with a silver medal on their 20th appearance early this year after the Confederation of African Football, CAF, finally ruled in favour of Nigeria.
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, had petitioned CAF after Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles were held hostage for 20 hours at a Libyan airport prior to a 2025 AFCON qualifier in Benina, Libya.
Rather than go ahead and play this match, the Super Eagles flew back to Nigeria to formally complain against the maltreatment they suffered at the hands of the North Africans.
On Saturday, CAF ruled that Libya breached several of their rules and besides forfeiting the match, they were also slammed a fine of $50,000 for breaching ‘the Article 31 of the African Cup of Nations Regulations, as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.’
CAF wrote that ‘the Libya Football Federation is found to have breached Article 31 of the African Cup of Nations Regulations, as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code and that the match No.87 Libya v. Nigeria of the CAF African Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on October 15, 2024 in Benghazi) is declared lost by forfeit by Libya (by a score of 3-0).
Reacting to the decision, Troost-Ekong says the Super Eagles are now just a step closer to making an immediate return to the African mundial.
‘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,’ wrote Troost-Ekong on his X page.
