Before their match against Nigeria, Libya faced consequences from CAF due to their unsafe and irregular decision to land Nigeria’s aircraft at a different airport and hold the players there until the end of the day.
As a result, CAF penalized Libya by awarding the match’s three points automatically to Nigeria.
Later, Libya faced additional punishment following their match against Benin. After Benin caused Libya’s elimination from AFCON, they reported being attacked and beaten by Libyan coaches and police officers after the game.
This incident led to CAF imposing a $50,000 fine on Libya. Furthermore, Libya has been ordered to play their next two matches behind closed doors.
However, Benin was not exempt from CAF’s disciplinary actions. The Benin Football Federation was accused of failing to cooperate with CAF’s disciplinary body during their qualifier against Rwanda.
This resulted in a $5,000 fine and an additional $50,000 fine for the misconduct of their officials, with $25,000 of that amount suspended.
In a separate case, Guinea filed a complaint against Tanzania, alleging that a Tanzanian player wore an unregistered jersey number and therefore their team should be disqualified. However, CAF rejected this request, stating that the evidence provided was insufficient.
CAF’s firm stance against misconduct showcases its commitment to maintaining order. Perhaps this strict approach is necessary to ensure the continued growth and progress of African football.