CAF fines Nigeria over pitch invasion during AFCON game with Chad

African football governing body, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has slammed a $5,000 fine on Nigeria for pitch invasion during their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad.

The match against Chad took place at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna on June 13.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles won the AFCON qualifying game 2-0 with goals from Gbolahan Salami and Odion Ighalo.

The CAF disciplinary board in its decision taken on September 20 and announced this week revealed that the offence committed during the Afcon qualifier is “pitch invasion when Nigeria scores.”

The former African champions are current second in Group G of the AFCON qualification with two points less behind leaders Egypt who taken maximum points from games against Tanzania and Chad.

The two nations meet on March 23, 2016 for the first time in the group with the Nigerians playing the hosts. Four days later, Nigeria will travel to Egypt in the return clash that could determine who stay top of the group.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is yet to pick a venue for the March 23 game against the Pharaohs of Egypt as the Eagles have shuttled their home games among UJ Esuene Stadium, the Akwa Ibom Stadium, Ahmadu Bello Stadium and the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in recent months.

The last time CAF fined Nigeria in an AFCON game was in February 2010 when they played co-hosts with Ghana for that year’s edition of the African tournament.

CAF did fine Nigeria $10,000 in 2010 for pitch invasion by fans who thought the Super Eagles had won by the golden goal rule against Senegal after Julius Aghahowa scored in extra time in a quarterfinal match.

The African football body later reduce the fine on Nigeria by half.