By Paul Ejime
THE DECISION penultimate Saturday by the Egypt-based Confederation of African Football (CAF) to award victory to Nigeria in the postponed 2025 AFCON qualifier and also punish Libya for mistreatment of visiting Nigerian delegation should serve as a lesson and deterrent to other countries.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria refused to play the match No.87 of the TotalEnergies CAF African Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 scheduled on 15 October 2024 in Benghazi, after the Libyan Federation unilaterally changed the match venue to the remote town of Al Abraq without adequate notice.
In addition to the illegal change of venue, the Nigerian delegation also complained about “inhumane” treatment and of “being held hostage” by the Libyans and hours of delay at the airport without the duty of care or attention by the host country as stipulated under CAF rules and regulations.
In its ruling on Nigeria’s petition and reply by Libya, the CAF Disciplinary Board said: “The Libya Football Federation was found to have breached Article 31 of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.”
Consequently, “The match No.87 Libya v. Nigeria of the TotalEnergies CAF African Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 …is declared lost by forfeit by Libya (by a score of 3-0).”
Also, “The Libya Football Federation is ordered to pay a fine of $USD 50,000, within 60 days of notification of the present decision.”
“All other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed,” said CAF statement.
African soccer analysts see the ruling under CAF led by South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe, who assumed office in 2021, as a marked departure from the past, when some countries’ FA employed similar “dirty tricks” to gain undue advantages over visiting soccer teams, without consequences.
Victory in the field of play, would have been preferred to settlement of encounters in World’s most popular round-leather game than in the boardroom.
However, decisions such as the one on Saturday by CAF will entrench disciple, integrity and fair play in football and other sports.
Motsepe is standing for re-election next year.
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