Sports

Botched AFCON 2025 Qualifier: CAF awards three points, three goals to Nigeria

Published

2 months ago

October 27, 2024

Joel Ajayi

The Disciplinary Board of Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Nigeria, three points and three goals from the botched Matchday 4 encounter of the 2025 AFCON qualification series scheduled to be played by Libya and Nigeria in Benina on 15^th October.

In its ruling on Saturday, signed by the chairman, Ousmane Kane, the Disciplinary Board ruled:

1) The Libya Football Federation is found to have breached Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.

2) The match No. 87 Libya v. Nigeria of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on 15 October in Benghazi) declared lost by forfeit by Libya (by a score of 3-0).

3) The Libya Football Federation is ordered to pay a fine of USD 50,000.

4) The fine is to be paid within 60 days of notification of the present decision.

5) All other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.

The implication is that Nigeria is now poised to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with two matches to spare. With the decision, the Eagles are now on 10 points from four matches, four points better than second-placed Benin Republic, while Rwanda have five points. Bottom-placed Libya have only one point and are out of the running for qualification.

Victory or draw against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan on Thursday, 14^th November (a Matchday 5 encounter) will land the Super Eagles a ticket to the finals in Morocco, December2025/January 2026.

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Sports

Special Sports is an integral part of Mr President’s Renewed Hope Commitment to Nigerians-Olopade

Published

4 hours ago

December 23, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, says prioritising the plight of the Country’s Special Athletes is one of the integral commitments of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,GCFR, under the revamped Sports Commission.

The NSC DG stated this over the weekend when he attended the final of the first edition of the Elite Wheelchair Basketball Championship held at the National Stadium in Lagos.

The DG reiterated that every Sports will get its required attention from the National Sports Commission , stressing that the Mandate of Mr President is to ensure a sustainable Sports Economy is built by maximising the potential of every sport.

” I must state here that myself and the Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko are totally committed to ensuring that you guys in wheelchair basketball, like every other para- sports, feel the impact of the renewed hope agenda of Mr President .

” This is why events of this nature , as small as it may appear , will always be appreciated and supported by the Commission.

” I am also very happy with the kind of giant strides we are witnessing with Wheelchair basketball and it has continued to grow over the years from where it was when I was the President”, he said.

The DG further hailed the organisers of the event saying, ” this is a very good one from Musibau and his wife, both who are captains of the Nigerian team, now playing in France . So for them to come back home to put this together shows how much the Sport has continued to grow in the Country”.

The Elite Wheelchair Basketball tournament saw Ogun State emerging winners after beating Oyo State in a highly entertaining final. Lagos State clinched the third place position after beating Kwara state in the third place match.

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