LAGOS — The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has removed the Group D second-leg fixture between Nigeria and Libya from its schedule for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The match, originally set for Tuesday, was called off following an airport ordeal involving Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles.
The Super Eagles had traveled to Libya after securing a 1-0 victory in the first leg on Friday at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. However, upon arrival in Libya, the team and officials reported facing over 14 hours of delays and mistreatment at the airport, which led them to abandon their plans and return to Nigeria.
“After everything we went through at the airport, we had no choice but to return home,” a member of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) said, describing the situation as humiliating.
CAF has launched an investigation into the incident, with the Libya Football Federation accusing Nigeria of sabotage and threatening legal action. CAF’s official Twitter account confirmed a list of Tuesday’s scheduled matches across Africa but notably omitted the Nigeria vs. Libya clash.
The NFF expressed frustration over the situation, which has cast uncertainty over the Super Eagles’ qualification path for the 2025 AFCON tournament.
As investigations continue, both sides remain in a standoff, with CAF expected to determine the next course of action.
