On Saturday, the disciplinary committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded the match to Nigeria, placing them in a strong position to qualify for next year's finals as they currently lead Group D.
With this victory, Nigeria now has 10 points, maintaining a four-point lead over second-placed Benin and a five-point advantage over Rwanda, with Libya sitting at the bottom of the group with just one point from four matches.
The top two teams in the group will secure a spot in the 2025 finals in Morocco.
Nigeria declined to play the match in Benghazi on October 15, citing poor treatment upon their arrival in Libya approximately 48 hours before the match was set to begin.
The Nigerian delegation was held in a locked airport for over 16 hours, nearly 250 kilometers from their intended location, after their charter flight was redirected and landed in Bayda instead of Benghazi.
They reported a lack of access to food and water, as well as no communication from Libyan officials during this ordeal, leading them to choose to return to Nigeria rather than participate in the match.
The Libya Football Federation stated that the situation was not intentional, noting that their players also encountered travel challenges when they visited Nigeria just four days prior.
However, CAF determined that Libya violated competition regulations, which require that visiting teams be properly welcomed by the host association, including assistance with entry procedures and transportation arrangements.
CAF announced that Nigeria has been awarded the match with a score of 3-0, while Libya has been fined $50,000.
Previously, Libya raised concerns regarding the treatment of their players and officials upon their arrival in Nigeria for the qualifier in Uyo on October 11. Their flight landed far from the match venue, resulting in significant travel delays for the team.
Nigeria's players were stranded in the locked airport in Bayda. |
In the actual match, Nigeria secured a 1-0 victory. The treatment Libya received prior to the return match scheduled four days later was perceived as retaliatory and faced widespread criticism across the continent, with many viewing it as an excessive form of gamesmanship.
This incident underscored the ongoing issue of inadequate treatment experienced by visiting teams throughout Africa, affecting both national and club competitions.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe stated earlier this week that the organization is considering implementing stricter rules and regulations to prevent the mistreatment of visiting teams.
African football has a reputation for the poor treatment of visiting sides, often involving tactics such as delays at immigration, lengthy and convoluted bus journeys, and substandard training facilities.