The Libyan Football Federation has vehemently said that Nigeria should be held responsible for the abandoned Tuesday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Benghazi after the Super Eagles refused to honour the match over maltreatment by Libyan authorities on arriving in the country.
In a video posted by the Eagles media team, the players and officials were left stranded with their luggage at the airport, with the Libyan airport officials indifferent to their plight and conversing in Arabic.
Libya were scheduled to host the three-time African champions at the 10,000-capacity Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, located just 10 kilometres from Benghazi, but their plane was diverted to the Al Abraq Airport, which is over 200 km and three and a half hours drive away from the planned campsite.
After being held hostage at the Al Abraq International Airport for over 20 hours without food or water and completely shut out of the world, the Eagles boycotted the second leg of the AFCON qualifiers against the Mediterranean Knights and returned to Nigeria on Monday night.
In response, the Confederation of African Football announced on Tuesday that the match will no longer be held.
“The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 qualifier fixture between Libya and Nigeria will not take place as scheduled tonight. The matter will be referred to the competent CAF bodies,” read a short statement from CAF on Tuesday.
CAF had earlier announced launching an investigation into the incident after the Libya Football Federation alleged sabotage and threatened legal action against Nigeria.
Reacting to the statement, Libya, in another statement, apologises to their fans but deplores the actions taken by the NFF, adding that it would take all legal measures to protect the interests of the national team.
“The Libyan Federation denounces the actions taken by the Nigerian Football Federation by refusing to participate in the Libyan-Nigerian cup qualification match scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, and affirms that it will take all legal measures to safeguard the interests of Libya’s first team.
“The Libyan Federation attaches some inhumane footage that did not prevent the Libyan missions from participating in the Nigeria-Libya game last Friday on Nigerian soil, motivated by cooperation with the African Football Federation. The Libyan Football Federation apologises to Libyan audiences everywhere and to the parties involved in the match because of the confusion caused by the Nigerian Football Federation for not having the game on time,” the translated statement read.
The LFF had earlier complained about the treatment of their players and officials on arrival in Nigeria for the first leg in Uyo last week, having directed their flight to land in Port Harcourt instead of Uyo, the match venue where the NFF were eagerly waiting to receive them.
Nigeria won the match 1-0, maintaining their pole position in Group D and putting them in good stead to secure a ticket to the finals in Morocco in July next year, which will feature the top two teams in each qualification pool.
Meanwhile, The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations on Tuesday praised President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, for the roles they played in airlifting the stranded country’s senior national team players from Libya.
The glowing tribute was made by the NIPR President and Chairman of Council, Dr Ike Neliaku, at the official unveiling of the Nigeria Reputation Management Group in Abuja.
He said, “Reputation takes a long journey; most times, it is like a relay race, highly delicate and easily perishable. While it takes a long time to build, it takes a short time to be damaged. Ladies and gentlemen, the reputation of our country needs some help.
“We appreciate the foreign affairs minister for making sure the players are not left there. We also appreciate the statement of Nigeria, even though he is on vacation, that Nigerians anywhere shall be respected and promoted whatever the situation.
“That is how reputation is built so that people will know that you care for them. It will also let them know that wherever they are, so long as they are doing the right thing, the nation will stand for them.”
As the whole world awaits CAF decision on the matter, the Minister for Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, commended the Eagles for their maturity “in spite of the provocations” meted to them in Libya.
“The entire country is aware of all you’ve gone through. The entire country has been awake since last night praying that you come back safely. What was important to us is your safe return to the country; nothing else mattered. Let me thank all of you for the great show of maturity in spite of what took place — in spite of the provocations”.
“We’ve seen all the pictures — the manner in which you were treated and how you tried to see whether you could even find some rest in the airport. How you were stopped from even leaving the airport. In spite of all of that, you remained calm and mature. That is the spirit that is typically Nigerian”, he said.
