The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially removed the Group D second-leg match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Libya’s Mediterranean Knights from the ongoing 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The match was initially set to take place in Libya at 8 p.m., following Nigeria’s narrow 1-0 victory in the first leg at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Controversy and Investigation
The decision to cancel the match comes amid controversy surrounding the Super Eagles’ travel experience to Libya. The team, along with officials from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), reported enduring a grueling 14-hour ordeal at a Libyan airport. Their flight, which was supposed to land in Benghazi, was rerouted to Al Abaq, situated two hours from their intended destination, leaving the players stranded without any transportation arrangements.
In light of these events, CAF has launched an investigation into the incident. The Libyan Football Federation has alleged sabotage and has threatened legal action against Nigeria over the matter.
CAF’s Announcement
As the investigation unfolds, CAF has updated its schedule for upcoming games, omitting the Nigeria vs. Libya fixture from the list. The official CAF account on X (formerly Twitter) confirmed this change, indicating that there will be a busy day of AFCON qualifying matches, but without the anticipated clash between the two teams.
The cancellation has raised questions about the future of the AFCON qualifiers and the broader implications for both teams involved in this troubling incident. As the situation develops, stakeholders await further information from CAF regarding the investigation’s findings and any potential repercussions for the Libyan Football Federation.