The Libyan Football Federation is in a state of alarm following a request from the Confederation of African Football, CAF, to submit documents related to the cancellation of the AFCON qualifying Group D match against Nigeria.
This came after Nigeria refused to play the match, citing a harrowing ordeal in which their plane was diverted to Labraq Airport and held for 18 hours without food or water.
Libya Al-Ahrar Channel said that Nasser Al-Suwaie, the Secretary-General of the Libyan Football Federation, confirmed that CAF had given both the Libyan and Nigerian federations a deadline of October 20 to submit the relevant documents. Al-Suwaie said that the Libyan FA has enlisted a specialized lawyer to provide evidence, but expressed concern about potential bias or collusion within CAF. However, he remained confident that the Libyan Federation’s position is solid.
Al-Suwaie also defended Libya’s actions, stating that the diversion of the flight to Al-Abraq Airport was a decision made by the Libyan government, not the Federation. He emphasized that the sovereignty of Libya should be respected by all parties involved.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles returned to Nigeria on Monday with disturbing accounts of their experience at the airport. The team was forced to take turns sleeping on the bare floor, and team manager Patrick Pascal disclosed that the airport’s toilet facilities had been deliberately sabotaged by Libyan officials in preparation for the team’s arrival. This added to the frustration and tension surrounding the cancellation of the match.
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Credible News recalls that the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, on Monday, had announced the withdrawal of the Super Eagles from the 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya, citing a severe ordeal faced by the team at Al Abraq International Airport.
The Nigerian delegation, which arrived in Libya on Sunday for Tuesday’s crucial fixture, was stranded at the small, remote airport for over 17 hours. Their chartered flight, initially en route to Benghazi, was abruptly diverted to Al Abraq—a location typically reserved for hajj flights—without prior warning.
The NFF, in a statement released on Monday, decried the distressing situation. NFF disclosed that the Libyan Football Federation failed to provide any form of assistance, leaving the team stuck at the airport with no transportation to their hotel, which is located three hours away.
This controversy has cast a shadow over the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, with both teams now awaiting clarity on the next steps.
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