“Libya can do better welcoming visiting teams.”

Monday’s African Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 soccer qualifying game between host Libya and Benin Republic raised new concerns about the host country’s welcoming attitude weeks after they were disciplined by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for similar bad behavior towards the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national soccer team.   

The Libya versus Benin Republic game ended goalless. However, the visiting team complained of disrespect from their host. “This was really a warzone,” Steve Mounie, Benin Republic’s team captain said in a quote on ESPN Africa’s X post.  “Not the Libyan team, nor the country, nor the supporters respected us before the game.”

Libya will not be at next year’s African Cup of Nations. In the aftermath of a hard-fought draw, the Benin Republic national soccer team suffered post-match attacks from Libyan soccer fans, with many throwing missiles at them and players and team officials complaining of ill-treatment from the host country.

However, Libya’s hostile behavior toward visiting soccer teams is not new. A month ago, CAF punished Libya for bad behavior. The country was fined $50,000 for breaching CAF’s governing rules.

In late October, CAF’s Disciplinary Board issued a media statement after Nigeria abandoned a scheduled qualifying game against Libya post airport delays and other controversies. The release said: “Libya Football Federation was found to have breached Articles 31 of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.” The statement added, “The match No.87 Libya v. Nigeria of the TotalEnergies CAF African Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on 15 October 2024 in Benghazi) is declared lost by forfeit by Libya (by a score of 3-0).”

The hostile attitude from Libyan fans reflects a worsening trend recently seen in the country, raising concerns that now is the time to nip hostilities in the bud. Libya can do better welcoming visiting teams. The Confederation of African Football must take a firm position regarding bad behavior in African football. Several analysts and soccer fans believe appropriate punishment for bad behavior will deter future recurrence of the ugly trend.

Benin Republic is one of 24 countries billed to participate in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.