AFCON: CAF needs to set team reception standard – Gara

 Former Chairman, Gombe State Football Association, Shuaibu Ahmed Gara-Gombe has called on the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) to overhaul its rules concerning teams’ reception during matches under its purview.

The fiery sports critic and one of a few Nigerian football stakeholders who call spade by its name made this observation against the backdrop of the recent hostile reception of the Libyan authorities during the aborted 2025 AFCON qualifying Group D fixture scheduled for October 15 in Benina, Libya.

The Super Eagles had their flight diverted from Benghazi to Al-Abraq, almost 150 miles away from the original destination, and took the team hostage for almost 20 hours at the airport with neither food nor water.

The Disciplinary Committee of CAF fined Libya $50,000 and awarded three points and three goals to Nigeria.

During an exclusive chat with our correspondent, Gara-Gombe reckons that the ugly scenario could have been avoided if CAF had clearly addressed the peculiar aviation and financial rules of each country.

He said CAF needs to completely overhaul its rules as regards home-away reception of teams.

“CAF must set a standard. As far as I am concerned, there is no standard, and we just don’t go and play matches anywhere. At the same time, we need to include in its rules and understand the rules in each country when it concerns aviation and financial rules.”

Meanwhile, Libya have expressed reservations about the verdict, accusing CAF of favouring Nigeria and threatening to seek redress at CAS.

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