The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has strongly criticised Nigeria’s decision to withdraw from the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Libya. This dispute has escalated to the point where the LFF is now threatening legal action to safeguard the interests of its national football team.
The Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national team, cited safety concerns after they were stranded for over 13 hours at Al Abaq Airport, following an unexpected diversion on Sunday. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) subsequently decided to pull out of the qualifier, originally scheduled for Tuesday, October 15. The NFF stated that their team had faced difficult conditions, leading to their withdrawal from the match.
In response, the LFF issued a statement condemning Nigeria’s actions, accusing the NFF of mishandling the situation and failing to cooperate in the organization of the match. The Libyan federation claimed that Nigeria’s lack of coordination contributed to the chaos, which ultimately led to the cancellation of the fixture.
“The Libyan Football Federation condemns the measures taken by the Nigerian Football Federation by refusing to play the Libya-Nigeria match in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers,” the LFF’s statement read. “We will take all legal measures to preserve the interests of the Libyan national football team.”
The LFF further addressed the travel issues faced by the Nigerian team, suggesting they were not comparable to the difficulties encountered by the Libyan team during the first leg of the fixture in Nigeria. The federation also attached footage of what it described as “inhumane” conditions experienced by the Libyan team in the first leg, emphasizing that despite these challenges, they honored their commitment to play.
“The Libyan Federation attaches some inhumane footage that did not prevent the Libyan mission from playing the Nigeria-Libya match last Friday in Nigeria, out of cooperation with the Confederation of African Football (CAF),” the statement added.
The LFF also accused the NFF of mishandling both legs of the match, claiming that Nigeria failed to cooperate in the planning of either fixture. The Libyan federation extended an apology to its fans for the disruption, but placed the blame squarely on the Nigerian authorities.
“We apologise to Libyan football fans everywhere and to the parties concerned with the match arrangements due to the state of confusion caused by the Nigerian Football Federation,” the LFF said in its closing remarks.
This controversy gained significant attention when photos surfaced of the Nigerian players sleeping on benches at Al Abaq Airport. These images quickly went viral, sparking outrage among Nigerian officials and fans alike. The players were stranded at the airport without access to basic amenities such as food, water, or adequate rest facilities for over 13 hours.
The captain of the Super Eagles, William Troost-Ekong, expressed his frustration with the situation, calling the conditions at the airport “disgraceful.” He also accused the Libyan authorities of intentionally playing “mind games” by revoking their landing permit and leaving the team in such harsh conditions.
As tensions rise between the two football federations, it remains unclear what steps will be taken next. However, the LFF’s threat of legal action suggests this situation may have long-term consequences for both teams as they continue their journeys in the AFCON qualifiers.
