CAF Ruling Boosts Super Eagles’ AFCON Qualification Hopes as Libya Forfeits Match

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Nigeria’s Super Eagles three points and three goals following Libya’s forfeit in their recent 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier. The Disciplinary Board’s decision cited Libya’s breach of AFCON and CAF disciplinary regulations after the scheduled October 15 match in Benghazi was abandoned. This ruling puts Nigeria in a strong position with 10 points from four games, four points ahead of Benin Republic, and close to securing a spot in the AFCON 2025 finals in Morocco.

CAF’s statement confirmed that Libya was in violation of Article 31 of the AFCON regulations, along with Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code. As a consequence, Libya has forfeited the match with a record of 3-0 and faces a $50,000 fine, payable within 60 days. The Super Eagles, who had cited safety concerns after being stranded for over 22 hours at Al-Abraq Airport near Benghazi, had boycotted the match. The Libyan Football Federation (LFF), however, claimed there was a lack of cooperation from Nigeria regarding travel logistics and cited similar issues experienced during the reverse fixture in Nigeria.

The Super Eagles now need only a win or draw in their upcoming match against Benin Republic on November 14 to secure their place in the 2025 AFCON finals. Team captain William Troost-Ekong expressed relief over the CAF ruling, describing it as “justice” in a post on social media. He emphasized the importance of the ruling for the team’s qualification journey, noting that it brings them “one step closer” to reaching the AFCON 2025.

With Nigeria’s advancement nearly secured, anticipation builds among fans as the Super Eagles eye the opportunity to compete on the continental stage. The final two qualifying matches offer the team a chance to solidify their standing and prepare for the AFCON finals in December 2025.