NFF demands three points and three goals for abandoned Libya game from Caf disciplinary committee

NIGERIAN Football Federation (NFF) officials have demanded three points and three goals from the Confederation of African Football (Caf) asking it to award their recently abandoned match against Libya to Nigeria.`         

Last week, in what should have been a straightforward football match, the Super Eagles found themselves trapped in a humiliating ordeal that put the spirit of African sportsmanship under scrutiny. Scheduled to face Libya in Benghazi last Tuesday for a crucial matchday four fixture, Nigeria’s national team were left stranded, fatigued and abandoned at the Al Abraq Airport.

After more than 12 hours of waiting in inhumane conditions, the team returned home, abandoning the game. In a startling development, the aircraft, which was just minutes away from landing in Benghazi, was rerouted to this little-known airport typically used for hajj operations, with no prior notice.

As expected, the matter was referred to Caf's disciplinary committee, who will sit in Cairo and adjudicate and deliver a verdict. Nigeria's NFF have asked Caf for three points and three goals from the game.

After boycotting the game, Nigeria petitioned Caf over the team's inhumane treatment, while the Libya Football Federation (LFF) appointed a lawyer to defend it against the charges and possibly award the match to it.

Last week, Caf appointed a committee to investigate the incident and punish any of the parties found culpable in the crisis. Caf had given the two parties up till last Sunday to submit documents to back their claims and now will start sitting tomorrow and deliver its verdict this week.

NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire, said: “We are demanding the full measure of the law, which is the three points and three goals to Nigeria and a hefty fine to dissuade other countries from toeing Libya’s path.If Caf cannot award the game to us, we want it to be moved to a purely neutral country, which is not politically aligned to any of the parties.”

Nigeria currently tops Group D with seven points from three matches. Benin is second with six points from four matches, Rwanda is third with five points from four matches and Libya is last with one point from three matches.