The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded three points and three goals to Nigeria’s Super Eagles following the cancellation of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya.

This ruling has strengthened Nigeria’s lead in their qualifying group.

With this decision, the Super Eagles now sit atop the group with 10 points from four matches, establishing a four-point advantage over their closest competitor, Benin.

Libya, meanwhile, remains at the bottom of the group with just one point.

Nigeria needs only a draw in their upcoming game against Benin in Abidjan next month to secure qualification for the 2025 AFCON tournament, set to be held in Morocco in December 2025.

CAF has also imposed a $50,000 fine on the Libya Football Federation, which must be paid within 60 days of receiving the official notice of the decision.

Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has urged the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to take action against Libya following the Super Eagles’ troubling experience during their recent trip for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

President Tinubu praised the Nigerian players for their resilience despite facing significant difficulties in Libya.

After the team’s return, the president expressed his thoughts through a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

“The President commends the swift coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Sports Development in addressing the unfortunate situation and ensuring the safe return of our players,” the statement read.

President Tinubu also applauded the Super Eagles for maintaining their high spirits despite the ordeal, adding that their perseverance was commendable.

He further emphasized the unifying power of football, expressing disappointment in the Nigerian team’s treatment in Libya. “Football brings nations and people together, and the unsportsmanlike and inhumane treatment of our players is in stark contrast to the spirit of the game, which I deeply value,” Tinubu remarked.

The Nigerian leader called on football enthusiasts and administrators to unite and work collaboratively to prevent such incidents in the future, stressing the importance of ensuring respect and fairness in the sport.

With this statement, Tinubu hopes to rally support for a positive resolution and prevent similar occurrences in African football.

The Libya Football Federation (LFF) has threatened legal action against Nigeria after the Super Eagles withdrew from their scheduled 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matchday four fixture.

The Super Eagles were left stranded at Al Abraq Airport for several hours upon their arrival in Libya for the AFCON qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights, citing safety concerns as the reason for their withdrawal.

In response, the LFF issued a strong statement accusing the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of failing to cooperate.

“The Libyan Football Federation condemns the actions taken by the Nigerian Football Federation, particularly their refusal to play the scheduled Libya-Nigeria AFCON qualifying match on Tuesday, October 15. We will take all necessary legal measures to protect the interests of the Libyan national team,” the LFF’s statement read.

The LFF also compared the situation to their own experience during the first leg of the qualifier in Nigeria, where they claimed to have endured challenges beyond their control but still fulfilled their obligation to play. The LFF criticized the NFF for mismanaging both the home and away fixtures.

“The Nigerian federation’s lack of cooperation regarding both matches is deeply concerning. While we faced significant obstacles in the first leg, we still played the game out of respect for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and fair competition,” the LFF added.

Additionally, the LFF apologized to Libyan fans for the confusion and delay in the match arrangements, placing the blame squarely on the NFF’s actions.

“We sincerely apologize to Libyan football fans and other parties involved in the match arrangements for the disruption caused by the Nigerian Football Federation, which led to the match not being held on time,” the statement concluded.

As tensions rise between the two federations, the LFF appears determined to seek legal recourse while the future of the qualifier remains uncertain.