Following official and fan misconduct during their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin in Benghazi on November 18, Libya was fined a whopping $50,000 by the Confederation of African Football and compelled to play two games behind closed doors.
Only two months have passed since Libya was punished for its questionable handling of Nigeria’s Super Eagles during a disastrous AFCON qualifier in October, in which the North African country purposefully redirected Nigeria’s plane to a dangerous airfield.
The CAF disciplinary committee also rejected Guinea’s appeal to exclude Tanzania from the 2024 AFCON in separate rulings. During their qualification, Guinea accused Tanzanian substitute Ibrahim Ame of wearing shirt number 26, which was not listed on the official team sheet.
Libya’s recent scandals have hurt African football, particularly following the October incident where they allegedly provided the Nigerian contingent with “inhumane treatment” at Al-Abraq Airport, according to CAF.
CAF awarded Nigeria three points after the game was canceled after the Super Eagles were denied basic amenities for over twenty hours.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refuted reports of widespread arrests, but the penalty has reportedly heightened diplomatic relations, with Libyan officials allegedly targeting Nigerian citizens in reprisal.
But according to Peter Omoreigbe, the president of the Nigerian community in Libya, Nigerians being harassed, claiming that “they are arresting innocent people.” It makes no difference to them if you have a resident permit or a passport.
In a previous defense of their activities against Nigeria, Libya’s football association claimed that they had been mistreated during their first-leg visit to Nigeria, including difficulties landing in Port Harcourt rather than the game’s host city of Uyo.
The continental organization’s strong stance against wrongdoing in African football is demonstrated by this most recent sanction from CAF, which also issued rulings impacting Benin and Equatorial Guinea, though specifics of their penalties were not immediately available.