The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) plans to “pursue the highest levels of litigation” in an effort to overturn the sanctions imposed on it following the cancellation of the national team’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria.
The Super Eagles boycotted the match in Benghazi after their flight from Nigeria was redirected, leaving the squad stranded in an airport terminal overnight.
In the days leading up to the match, originally scheduled for October 15, tensions escalated between the two countries.
As a result, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) disciplinary board awarded Nigeria a 3-0 victory and imposed a $50,000 (£38,500) fine on the LFF.
“Match points cannot be awarded in this way,” LFF acting president Abdunnaser Ahmed told BBC Sport Africa.
“It is a precedent that African football has never witnessed before.
“Whoever refrains from playing before any match is cancelled should be considered a loser.”
Caf’s decision leaves Libya on the brink of elimination from qualifying, as the Mediterranean Knights need to win both of their remaining two games in Group D and hope that opponents Benin and Rwanda fail to pick up points.
A statement from the continent’s governing body said “all further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed”, but Ahmed confirmed the LFF would take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) if necessary.
“We believe that our cause is just,” he added.
“We will see Caf’s response to the appeal submitted by us and we will go to Cas. [We] will not give up our right.
“Such decisions place football officials in Africa before a new phase of dramatic scenes.”
Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong described the decision by the Caf board as “justice”.
“Plane was diverted from scheduled airport even when the pilot told them he was low on fuel,” the centre-back added in a post on X.
A ‘most unfortunate’ situation
Nigeria reported that no explanation was provided for their plane being diverted to Al Abraq, approximately 230 km (143 miles) from Benghazi, and upon their arrival on October 13, they were not greeted by an LFF representative.
Players took to social media to express their frustrations, stating they were left without food, Wi-Fi, or a place to sleep, leading the Super Eagles squad to return to West Africa the day before the match.
Meanwhile, Libya lodged complaints about the treatment their team received in Nigeria ahead of the reverse fixture on October 11, which Nigeria won 1-0.
CAF intervened and canceled the match in North Africa, with a disciplinary board determining that Libya had violated two articles of its disciplinary code, as well as a provision of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations.
The breaches concerned principles of conduct, match security, and the accommodation of visiting teams.
At the time, Nigeria’s Troost-Ekong referred to the treatment they received as “mind games,” while the LFF denied any allegations of foul play.
Ahmed said Caf “did not evaluate the real situation”.
“The plane’s course was changed for technical and logistical reasons related to air navigation,” he added.
Nigeria’s foreign minister Yusuf Tuggar told Newsday on the BBC World Service that the situation was “most unfortunate” and complicated by the fact Libya is split between two administrations which both claim to be the country’s legitimate rulers.
“Our team flew into a part of the country that was under the control of a government that did not have diplomatic representation in Abuja,” he said.
The 3-0 walkover means Nigeria are one victory away from reaching the 2025 Nations Cup in Morocco.