The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has provided clarification on why the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match between Nigeria and Libya will not take place as originally scheduled.
The match, set for 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15, was canceled following an ordeal faced by the Nigerian team in Libya.
In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, CAF announced that the matter between the two nations will be referred to the appropriate CAF bodies for further review.
“The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifier fixture between Libya and Nigeria will not take place as scheduled tonight. The matter will be referred to the competent CAF bodies,” the statement read.
The decision followed a harrowing experience for the Super Eagles, who returned to Nigeria after a 14-hour ordeal caused by unexpected actions from the Libyan authorities.
The Super Eagles’ flight, originally set to land in Benghazi, was suddenly rerouted to Al Abaq, a city two hours away from the planned destination. The pilot of the flight explained that despite having approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority to land in Benghazi, they were instructed to divert to Al-Abraq without prior notice.
“In aviation, we calculate fuel based on our destination. Diverting unexpectedly can compromise safety,” the pilot said, stressing that the decision came from the highest Libyan authorities. He also refuted media claims that the diversion was his choice, pointing out that all aviation communications are recorded and could serve as evidence.
Following the diversion, the Nigerian squad and officials were stranded at the airport for over 14 hours without transportation, food, or accommodation arrangements. With no resolution in sight, the Super Eagles were forced to return to Nigeria, leaving the match in limbo.
CAF’s decision to refer the case to its competent bodies will determine the next steps regarding the canceled AFCON qualifier.
