On Monday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the launch of an investigation into the events surrounding the Nigeria vs. Libya match, initially set to take place on Tuesday as part of the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) reported that its national team experienced “inhumane treatment” upon arrival in Libya, sparking significant concerns.
According to CAF’s official statement, the organization reached out to both Libyan and Nigerian authorities after receiving reports that Nigeria’s players and coaching staff were stranded for several hours at a Libyan airport under worrying conditions. It was reported that the team had been instructed to land at that specific airport by Libyan authorities.
CAF referred the matter to its Disciplinary Committee for further investigation and vowed to take necessary actions against any parties who violated the regulations.
The Nigerian Football Federation responded by recalling the national team, citing “inhumane treatment” as the primary reason. According to NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, the players refused to participate in the match, and the federation filed an official complaint with CAF.
Reports indicated that the Nigerian delegation was stranded for about 15 hours at Al Abraq International Airport after their chartered flight, which was supposed to land in Benghazi, was redirected. Despite Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over Libya in the first leg, the situation deteriorated with the logistical challenges leading to the team’s withdrawal.
Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, John Enoh, condemned the situation, describing the treatment of the Nigerian team as “deplorable.” He revealed that the delegation was left without food or accommodation, exposed to mosquitoes, and confined within the airport under Libyan security watch.
Enoh emphasized that the safety of the Nigerian national team was his top priority, making it clear that such treatment was unacceptable.
In response, the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) issued a statement expressing regret for any inconvenience caused, attributing the situation to standard air traffic control protocols. The LFF highlighted that the issue was a misunderstanding and stressed their commitment to resolving it in a spirit of goodwill.
The LFF also criticized the international media for misrepresenting the facts and reaffirmed that Libya views sports as a platform for fostering unity and friendship among nations.
Nigeria was leading Group B of the AFCON qualifiers with 7 points from 3 matches following their 1-0 win against Libya in the first leg. The second leg, scheduled in Libya, was meant to be a decisive match for both teams in their pursuit of a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
