2025 AFCON Qualifiers: Nigeria Refuse to Play in Libya as Algeria, Cameroon Qualify
Nigeria’s decision to withdraw from an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya has overshadowed the successful qualifications of Algeria and Cameroon for the 2025 finals.
The Nigerian squad, reportedly stranded for nearly 13 hours at an airport 225 kilometers from Benghazi, expressed outrage over their treatment, with forward Victor Boniface stating, “We have been stuck at the airport with no food, Wi-Fi, or place to sleep. Africa, we can do better.”
Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba, who accompanied the team, called for action from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), suggesting that Libya should be banned from international football. The Nigerian delegation, furious over the situation, returned home instead of proceeding to the match.
The Libyan Football Federation quickly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that accusations of foul play were unfounded. They emphasized that their own national team had faced difficulties during their recent visit to Nigeria.
In response, CAF announced that the incident has been referred to its disciplinary board for further investigation.
Meanwhile, in other Group D action, Nigeria and Benin were positioned to secure top spots, with Nigeria holding seven points and Benin six.
In Group J, Cameroon secured their qualification with a 1-0 win over Kenya, thanks to a free-kick from Boris Enow.
Algeria also continued their strong performance, defeating Togo 1-0, with Ramy Bensebaini scoring from the penalty spot. Equatorial Guinea followed suit, defeating Liberia 2-1, putting them in a favorable position for qualification.
As the qualifying rounds progress, the fallout from Nigeria’s boycott will likely have significant implications for the teams involved and the future of African football governance.
