PLAYERS and supporters of Libya have taken to the streets to protest the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on the botched 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier involving the Mediterranean Knights and the Super Eagles.
CAF found Libya guilty of breaching some of its statues and awarded three points and three goals to Nigeria, as well as a fine of $50,000 on the Libya Football Federation (LFF), for the ill-treatment of the Nigerian team ahead of the match billed for October 15.
The Super Eagles pulled out of the match after having their plane diverted mid-air by Libyan authorities and kept in an abandoned airport for 18 hours without food or water.
The LFF has promised to go as far as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to appeal CAF’s judgement.
Local newspaper Akhbar Libya 24 reported that in a street demonstration on Monday led by Libyan players, including captain Khairi Al-Qadi, the protesters expressed anger at the CAF decision.
The publication said the players and supporter decried that CAF’s decision went against their country because they lacked influence in the continental football body and FIFA.
They also claimed that CAF has always been “unfair in its dealings with Libya over the past decades, whether in relation to referees or organizational decisions that harmed Libyan teams and national teams.”
According to the online newspaper, the protesters also alleged that some members of the CAF disciplinary committee are Nigerians, which opened the door to bias in favour of Nigeria.
