“Football is about unity, and we uphold the values of fairness and mutual respect.”
The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has engaged the services of a foreign attorney to challenge sanctions imposed on it by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Ali Abbas is a Tunisian lawyer.
By CAF’s ruling Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in Uyo on October 11 has strengthened their chances of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco, while Libya remains at the bottom of Group D with just one point.
CAF’s disciplinary committee, led by Ousmane Kane, found Libya in violation of Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
The LFF contends that Libyan players faced similar challenges when they arrived in Nigeria a week earlier but did not accuse Nigeria of any underhand dealings.
According to the LFF, “Football is about unity, and we uphold the values of fairness and mutual respect.”
BELOW IS CAF’s COMMUNIQUE IMPOSING SANCTIONS ON LIBYA
The CAF Disciplinary Board met to deliberate on the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifier that was scheduled between Libya and Nigeria.
The Disciplinary Board decided as follows:
- Libya Football Federation was found to have breached Article 31 of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
- The match No.87 Libya v. Nigeria of the TotalEnergies CAF African Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on 15 October 2024 in Benghazi) is declared lost by forfeit by Libya (by a score of 3-0).
- The Libya Football Federation is ordered to pay a fine of USD 50,000. The fine is to be paid within 60 days of notification of the present decision.
- All other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.
Story: Oppong Baah
