After a series of unexpected and controversial twists and turns, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken a drastic decision by withdrawing the Group D return leg between Nigeria national team, the Super Eagles, and Libyan Mediterranean Knights from the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Initially scheduled to be played in Libya at 8pm, following the Super Eagles’ 1-0 win in the first leg played at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, the return leg took an unexpected turn. Indeed, players and officials of the Nigerian team reported a grueling 14-hour journey to a Libyan airport, forcing them to turn back and return home.
Faced with the incident, CAF announced an investigation, while the Libyan Football Association alleged sabotage and threatened to take legal action against Nigeria.
While continuing its investigation, CAF published an updated list of matches scheduled for Tuesday on its official X account (formerly Twitter), notably omitting the Libya-Nigeria match.
This case, which could have remained anecdotal, gave rise to twists and turns and an atmosphere of tension between the two teams, raising questions about the logistics and organization surrounding international matches.
The event also highlighted the complex issues and challenges faced by African national teams in their quest to qualify for major competitions. The travel, security and reception conditions of visiting teams play a decisive role in the smooth running of matches and the fairness of competitions.
Ultimately, this case highlights the crucial importance of planning, communication and transparency in the organization of international sports competitions. It also invites reflection on the measures to be taken to guarantee optimal conditions for teams and ensure the smooth running of matches, in compliance with the rules and values of sport.