CAF Fines Libyan FA $50,000 For Maltreating Benin Players in AFCON Qualifiers

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has fined the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) $50,000 and mandated that the country play two matches behind closed doors. The sanctions followed incidents of misconduct during and after Libya’s 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification match against the Benin Republic on November 18 in Tripoli.

CAF’s disciplinary board found Libya violating articles 82 and 151 of its disciplinary code due to the actions of supporters and officials surrounding the goalless draw. The match secured AFCON qualification for the Benin Republic, leaving Libya at the bottom of the group standings.

Gernot Rohr, head coach of the Cheetahs of the Benin Republic, detailed how Libyan police allegedly assaulted him and his players with batons after the match. Video evidence shared online showed Benin Republic team members treating injuries in their dressing room using ice packs, further corroborating claims of violence.

Also Benin’s captain, Steve Mounie, condemned his team’s treatment during their trip to Libya for the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

Speaking to ORTB after the ordeal, Mounie recounted the hostile environment:

It wasn’t easy. It was really a war zone. This Libyan team, this country, and its supporters didn’t respect us at the start of the match. They whistled our national anthem, and we made it personal. We wanted to come out of this match with qualification. We did it with difficulty. Benin is at the CAN 2025. We can be proud of what we have achieved with this group of young players.

It will be recalled that in October 2024, Nigeria’s Super Eagles were stranded at a Libyan airport before their match in Benghazi, leading CAF’s Disciplinary Board to award Nigeria three points and impose sanctions on Libya.

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Oluwasegun Sanusi

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