The footballing world is closely watching the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as they prepare to issue a ruling on the chaotic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Libya. The match, which was marred by a troubling incident in Libya two weeks ago, has become a significant talking point internationally. During the match, the Super Eagles found themselves in a hostage-like situation, which has now placed immense pressure on CAF to act decisively and ensure the integrity of African football is upheld.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe addressed the incident during a speech at the CAF General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In his remarks, he strongly condemned the hostile treatment of visiting teams and emphasized the importance of sportsmanship in the game. Motsepe acknowledged that such misconduct has been an ongoing problem, but admitted that CAF has not always taken decisive action in the past. He assured the audience that moving forward, CAF would take firm measures against any violations of its rules, stressing that accountability is necessary to maintain fair competition.

Former Super Eagles defender Taribo West, alongside other football officials, has called for severe penalties against Libya, citing a pattern of mistreatment towards visiting teams. West expressed his confidence that CAF’s response will be harsh, as the global football community closely follows the aftermath of the Super Eagles’ ordeal. An unnamed official who accompanied the team to Libya also echoed this sentiment, advocating for Libya to face strict sanctions, including awarding three points and three goals to Nigeria, as well as imposing a hefty fine on Libya. He emphasized that such actions are crucial to discourage any future acts of hostility and protect the spirit of the sport.