The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has detailed a series of unprecedented challenges faced by the Super Eagles and its officials upon arrival in Libya for a crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match. A 20-point report issued by NFF’s Director of Communications, Dr. Ademola Olajire, highlighted how the Libyan authorities’ actions undermined what was expected to be a straightforward sporting event, turning it into a logistical and diplomatic ordeal.
According to the NFF, the journey started smoothly when the chartered ValueJet aircraft departed from Uyo on October 13, 2024, and made a brief stop in Kano for refueling and immigration checks. However, upon approaching Benghazi, where the match was scheduled, the flight was unexpectedly diverted to Al-Abraq International Airport, a small, poorly equipped facility in the town of Labraq, despite the NFF having completed all necessary landing procedures.
Upon landing at the airport, the delegation was met with inadequate infrastructure. Passport scans were conducted using mobile phones due to a lack of proper equipment, and the players and officials were treated with minimal courtesy by the local authorities. In what further aggravated the situation, no Libyan Football Federation (LFF) officials were present to receive the Nigerian delegation, leaving them stranded without clear instructions or transport.
The situation deteriorated as efforts to contact the LFF for assistance proved futile. Despite numerous calls, the Libyan officials repeatedly delayed the arrival of buses that were meant to transport the Nigerian team to their hotel in Benghazi. By midnight, the delegation learned that they were being deliberately delayed for at least 10 hours as an act of retaliation for an incident in Nigeria, which the NFF claims was entirely misrepresented by the Libyan team.
Throughout the night, the Nigerian team remained stuck in the airport’s departure lounge, with no food, water, or internet access, while local security personnel treated them with hostility. Frustration mounted as some players fell ill due to hunger, fatigue, and dehydration. Calls to Nigerian higher authorities raised concerns about the safety and well-being of the players, as tensions continued to rise.
Despite these setbacks, the NFF tried to maintain calm among the team, with players and officials attempting to distract themselves through games and conversations as they waited for relief. By the morning of October 14, a representative from the Nigerian Embassy in Libya arrived with basic provisions, providing some respite for the weary delegation.
Eventually, it was agreed that the match could not proceed under such hostile conditions. The NFF informed the Confederation of African Football (CAF) of the ordeal, urging the governing body to take action against the Libyan hosts for their “unprecedented level of hostility.” The NFF stated that they had traveled in the spirit of sportsmanship, only to be met with deliberate obstructions and poor treatment that tarnished the game’s essence.
The Nigerian team finally departed Libya that afternoon, having endured nearly 24 hours of what the NFF described as “inhumane treatment.” The federation is now awaiting CAF’s decision on the fate of the match, while emphasizing the need for accountability and proper sanctions to protect the integrity of the sport across Africa.
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