The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has turned up the warmth, demanding an in depth clarification from the Libya Football Federation (LFF) over the sudden cancellation of the essential Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group D qualifier between Libya and Nigeria.
What was alleged to be a showdown on Oct.15 in Benghazi has as an alternative became a scandal that would rock African soccer.
Nigeria’s refusal to take the sphere was triggered by what they described as “inhumane treatment” by the hands of Libyan authorities.
According to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), their nationwide crew, the Super Eagles, endured an 18-hour ordeal after their flight, sure for Benghazi, was unexpectedly diverted to Labraq Airport.
The gamers and employees reportedly had been stranded with out meals or water, fueling their resolution to not take part within the match.
CAF has given each the Libyan and Nigerian federations till Oct. 20 to submit all related documentation surrounding the incident, per experiences from Al-Ahrar Channel.
This units the stage for a complete investigation that would have far-reaching penalties.
In response, the LFF has taken authorized motion, enlisting a specialised lawyer to deal with their protection.
The federation is distancing itself from the controversy, claiming that the choice to reroute the Nigerian crew’s flight was made by Libyan state authorities and never the LFF.
The Super Eagles presently sit atop Group D after a 1-0 victory over Libya within the first leg held in Uyo, whereas the Libyans languish on the backside of the desk.
This sudden twist not solely places the destiny of the qualifier in jeopardy but in addition shines a highlight on the operational challenges dealing with African soccer.
CAF’s investigation will probably be carefully watched, with each federations anticipated to submit their experiences by the looming deadline.
Depending on the findings, the implications may vary from rescheduling the match to extra extreme sanctions.
Source: www.dailysabah.com