The African football giants have increased their lead in Group D of the Afcon qualifiers while the North Africans remain at the bottom of the pool.
Nigeria boycotted their scheduled 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya earlier in October.
The Super Eagles accused Libya of playing mind games which left them stranded at Al Abraq Airport for at least 15 hours.
That saw the Nigeria Football Federation lodging a complaint which Caf who have now sanctioned the North Africans.
“The CAF Disciplinary Board met to deliberate on the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifier that was scheduled between Libya and Nigeria,” Caf said in a statement.
“The Disciplinary Board decided as follows:
“1. 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.
“2. The match No.87 Libya v. Nigeria of the TotalEnergies CAF African Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on 15 October 2024 in Benghazi) is declared lost by forfeit by Libya (by a score of 3-0).
“3. The Libya Football Federation is ordered to pay a fine of USD 50,000. The fine is to be paid within 60 days of notification of the present decision.
“4. All other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”
“Justice: Caf awards three points and three goals to Nigeria,” Ekong wrote on social media.
“Libya fined $50,000. Plane was diverted 300km from scheduled airport even when the pilot told them he was low on fuel. One step closer to our target Afcon 2025.”
Caf’s decision leaves Nigeria four points clear at the top of Group D as they return to the tournament they finished as runners-up in the last edition
They have two games left in these qualifiers against Benin away and Rwanda at home.
While the Super Eagles have increased their lead, Libya remain at the bottom of the group with just a point.
