Botched AFCON 2025 Qualifier: CAF awards three points, three goals to Nigeria
The Disciplinary Board of Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Nigeria, three points and three goals from the botched Matchday 4 encounter of the 2025 AFCON qualification series scheduled to be played by Libya and Nigeria in Benina on 15th October.
In its ruling on Saturday, signed by the chairman, Ousmane Kane, the Disciplinary Board ruled:
1) 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.
2) 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).
3) The Libya Football Federation is ordered to pay a fine of USD 50,000.
4) The fine is to be paid within 60 days of notification of the present decision.
5) All other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.
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 are now on 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 Thursday, 14th November (a Matchday 5 encounter) will land the Super Eagles a ticket to the finals in Morocco, December2025/January 2026.
