The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has slammed Libya with a $50,000 fine and ordered them to play their next two matches behind closed doors following incidents of misconduct during their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Benin in Benghazi on November 18.
The sanctions stem from unruly behavior by Libyan supporters and officials during the match, marking the second time in two months that Libya has faced CAF’s disciplinary hammer. In October, Libya drew widespread criticism for its controversial treatment of Nigeria’s Super Eagles during a failed AFCON qualifier. The North African nation reportedly diverted Nigeria’s flight to an unsafe airport, leaving the team stranded for over 20 hours without basic amenities. CAF condemned the incident as “inhumane treatment” and subsequently awarded three points to Nigeria.
This latest controversy adds to Libya’s mounting troubles, further tarnishing their reputation in African football.
In a separate ruling, CAF’s disciplinary committee dismissed Guinea’s appeal to disqualify Tanzania from the 2024 AFCON. Guinea alleged that Tanzanian substitute Ibrahim Ame wore an unauthorized jersey number (26), which was not listed on the official team sheet. However, CAF found no grounds to act on the complaint.
CAF’s decisions underline its commitment to enforcing discipline across the continent. While Libya has borne the brunt of recent rulings, CAF also handed down sanctions against Benin and Equatorial Guinea for undisclosed infractions, signaling a wider crackdown on misconduct in African football.
