The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has voiced strong disapproval of Nigeria’s decision to withdraw from the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national football team, pulled out of the match due to safety concerns after being stranded for over 13 hours at Al Abaq Airport, following an unexpected flight diversion. The match was initially scheduled for Tuesday, October 15.
In a statement shared by The Libya Observer, the LFF accused the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) of failing to cooperate in organizing both the initial and return leg of the matches. They also blamed the NFF for causing confusion that led to the current impasse. The LFF condemned the NFF’s decision to refuse to play the match, threatening to pursue legal action to protect the interests of Libya’s national team.
The LFF also highlighted that the challenges faced by the Nigerian team were not as severe as those endured by the Libyan team during the first leg in Nigeria. They released footage of difficult conditions their team faced in the first leg to emphasize the disparity. According to the LFF, the Libyan team, despite such difficulties, still played their match out of cooperation with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The federation extended an apology to Libyan football fans, expressing regret over the confusion surrounding the match but attributing the issues to the NFF’s actions.
The controversy escalated after photos circulated of the Nigerian players sleeping on benches at the airport, leading to criticism from Nigerian authorities. Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong described the conditions at Al Abaq Airport as “disgraceful,” accusing Libyan authorities of playing “mind games” by revoking the team’s landing permit and leaving them without basic necessities like food, water, or a proper place to rest.
This incident adds tension to an already heated rivalry, and the LFF’s threat of legal action against the NFF suggests that the conflict could continue to escalate.
