The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has condemned the “inhumane treatment” faced by its national team in Libya ahead of a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The team was held at an abandoned airport for over 20 hours after their chartered flight landed on Sunday.
The NFF outlined a series of grievances in a 20-point statement, alleging that the Libyan authorities and football federation had “relegated the keenly-anticipated match to a fiasco.” The team was initially scheduled to land in Benghazi but was diverted to Al Abraq, 230km away.
Captain William Troost-Ekong expressed safety concerns and refused to travel by bus to Benina, where the qualifier was to be played. “We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security,” he stated. “We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us if we continued.”
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has launched an investigation into the incident, condemning the “disturbing and unacceptable experiences” of the Nigerian team. CAF has been in contact with both the Libyan and Nigerian authorities and has vowed to take appropriate action against those responsible for violating its statutes and regulations.
The Libyan football federation has denied any wrongdoing, claiming it has “utmost respect” for Nigeria. However, former African footballer of the year Victor Ikpeba, who accompanied the team, has called for strict sanctions against Libya and supported the decision to boycott the match.
“If CAF know their job, Libya ought to be banned from international football,” Ikpeba said. “This is a high-risk country and one really wonders who approved for Libya to be playing their games at home.”
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of teams traveling to Libya for international matches. The Nigerian team’s ordeal has highlighted the need for CAF to ensure that host countries meet minimum standards of hospitality and security.
