Nigeria’s Super Eagles declared winners of AFCON 2025 qualifier against Libya after hostage ordeal

October 26, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been declared winners of their AFCON 2025 qualifying match against Libya, following a harrowing 20-hour hostage situation at Al-Abraq Airport.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the decision after the Libya Football Federation was found to have breached multiple regulations regarding the treatment of the Nigerian team.

The Nigerian squad’s flight was diverted without warning, forcing them to land at an airport far from their intended destination. Upon arrival, they were held for nearly a full day without adequate food or water, leading to widespread outrage and condemnation from Nigerian officials and fans alike.

Bright Osayi-Samuel, a Fenerbahce fullback, took to social media to express his distress, calling for CAF’s intervention .

In its ruling, CAF’s Disciplinary Board declared the match a forfeit for Libya with a scoreline of 3-0 in favor of Nigeria.

The Libya Football Federation was found to have breached Article 31 of the African Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.

Additionally, Libya has been fined $50,000, which must be paid within 60 days.

The incident sparked calls for greater accountability within African football governance and raised concerns about the safety and treatment of teams traveling abroad.

CAF’s Disciplinary Board emphasized that such treatment of visiting teams is unacceptable and must be addressed decisively.