The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has announced plans to challenge sanctions imposed after a cancelled Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Nigeria, which awarded Nigeria a 3-0 victory and slapped Libya with a $50,000 fine.

The qualifier, initially set for October 15, was scrapped after Nigeria’s Super Eagles were forced to boycott. Their flight had been diverted, leaving the team stranded overnight in Libya without adequate support. LFF acting president Abdunnaser Ahmed called the decision unprecedented in African football, saying, “Matchpoints cannot be awarded in this way… Whoever refrains from playing before any match is cancelled should be considered a loser.”

CAF’s ruling, based on Libya’s alleged failure to meet multiple match security standards, now threatens Libya’s AFCON qualification. Ahmed vowed to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, maintaining, “We believe our cause is just. We will not give up our right.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s captain, William Troost-Ekong, called CAF’s ruling “justice,” highlighting that the diversion took place despite their plane’s low fuel status. The Super Eagles were redirected 230 km from Benghazi, where they arrived without any LFF representatives or adequate provisions, eventually forcing their return to Nigeria.

Libya also expressed grievances over its team’s treatment in Nigeria during a prior game on October 11, which Nigeria won 1-0. While Libya argues the flight issues were “technical and logistical,” Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, labeled the diplomatic tensions as “most unfortunate,” citing Libya’s divided political landscape and limited diplomatic channels.

With this decision, Nigeria now requires just one more victory to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco, while Libya faces a tough qualification path and is left to hope for a favorable ruling from CAS.