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CAF : Libya faces escalating sanctions amid AFCON controversy

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In a developing saga that has intensified tensions between Libya and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Libya has recently filed an appeal to overturn CAF’s controversial ruling related to their disrupted 2025 AFCON qualifier against Nigeria.

However, the situation has taken a turn for the worse as CAF has now imposed fresh sanctions on the Libya Football Federation (LFF).

The new penalties include a $20,000 fine and the requirement for two upcoming matches to be played behind closed doors.

These sanctions only add to the pressure on Libyan football, which is already grappling with the fallout from recent events.

The controversy began during the Nigerian national team’s travel to Benghazi for the October 15 AFCON qualifier.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: CAF rules in favour of Nigeria, awards 3-0 victory in AFCON qualifier against Libya

The team’s flight was diverted to Al-Abraq Airport, where they faced over 18 hours of delays. This significant disruption ultimately forced the Nigerian team to boycott the return leg match and head home.

In light of these events, CAF ruled in favor of Nigeria, awarding them three points and three goals.

CAF’s investigation concluded that Libya violated several regulations regarding the management of the Nigerian team’s arrival, resulting in a match forfeiture and an initial fine of $50,000. In a bid to contest this decision, Libya swiftly filed an appeal, seeking to overturn the ruling in favor of Nigeria.

As the LFF challenges CAF’s earlier ruling, they have been hit with additional penalties. In a separate incident, another Libyan team received a $20,000 fine and was ordered to play their next two matches behind closed doors due to violent incidents during a recent game.

These escalating sanctions highlight the ongoing struggles faced by Libyan football and reflect the growing tensions between the country and CAF. With the appeal still pending and new penalties being enforced, the future of Libyan football remains uncertain.

As this situation continues to unfold, all eyes will be on the decisions made by CAF and the LFF’s next steps in this contentious affair.

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