CAF punishment denies Libya fans attendance at Tunisia match in Tripoli

Abdel Moulah Al-Maghribi, the president of the Libyan Football Federation, has resolved the debate regarding fan attendance for the upcoming match between his national team and Tunisia, scheduled to take place next Tuesday at the Tripoli Stadium, as part of the fourth round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Moroccan confirmed that the match will be held without fans, in accordance with the punishment issued by the CAF Disciplinary Committee, which prohibits the Libyan national team from having their supporters for two consecutive home matches, following the events that occurred during their encounter against Benin in November 2024.

The President of the Libyan Football Federation has explained that the chances of suspending the penalty seem limited due to time constraints, despite having made extensive contacts with CAF officials in an attempt to obtain an exemption allowing fans to attend. He emphasized the importance of respecting the regulations, despite the difficulty in changing the decision.

The Moroccan said in his television statements: "We respect the rules and regulations of CAF, and it is practically impossible to change the decision, but we will try."

On the technical side, the president of the Libyan Football Federation praised the valuable victory achieved by his national team over Tunisia at the Stade de Sfax, considering that the triumph came as a result of collective work and cooperation between the federation's management, the coaching staff, and the players, alongside support from the state.

The Moroccan has warned against over-celebrating the victory, emphasizing that focus has shifted directly to the return leg in Tripoli, expressing confidence in the players' physical, technical, and mental readiness for the anticipated match.

Libya's national team enters the match sitting second in Group E with 4 points, level with leaders Uganda, while Botswana and Tunisia occupy third and fourth places with 2 points each.

With Uganda guaranteed qualification for the finals as one of the host nations, the match is increasingly important for the Libyan national team, which is looking to take advantage of the return leg and enhance its chances of securing the remaining qualification spot, and to end its absence from the continental tournament that has lasted for 7 consecutive editions.