In a strong response to Nigeria’s withdrawal from the upcoming second-leg match against Libya in Benghazi, the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has vowed to pursue all necessary legal actions to protect the interests of its national team.
The LFF’s statement, shared by The Libya Observer, highlighted the challenges they faced during their recent visit to Nigeria, which they described as inhumane.
Despite the difficulties, the LFF chose to participate in the first-leg match in Nigeria, expressing frustration over what they deemed a lack of cooperation from the Nigerian side. They insisted that the treatment their delegation received in Nigeria was far worse than what the Nigerian team experienced in Libya.
This controversy erupted after the Nigerian senior men’s team, the Super Eagles, cited serious safety concerns following an ordeal at Al Abaq Airport, where they were stranded for over 13 hours without access to basic necessities such as food, water, or a place to rest. The situation escalated when images emerged of the players sleeping on benches at the airport, prompting outrage.
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong described the conditions as “disgraceful,” accusing Libyan authorities of deliberately sabotaging their travel plans by revoking their landing permit, effectively leaving the team stranded.
In light of these circumstances, Nigeria announced its withdrawal from the match originally scheduled for October 15. The LFF condemned Nigeria’s decision, emphasizing its commitment to uphold the interests of Libyan football. “The Libyan Football Federation condemns the actions taken by the Nigerian Football Federation in refusing to play the Libya-Nigeria match in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers. We will take all legal measures necessary to protect our national team,” their statement declared.
The LFF also referenced footage illustrating their own struggles in Nigeria, stating that these challenges did not deter them from fulfilling their obligations. They lamented the lack of cooperation from the Nigerian side regarding both legs of the match and expressed regret over the confusion and delays caused by Nigeria’s actions.
In closing, the LFF extended its apologies to Libyan football fans and stakeholders for the disruption in match arrangements, attributing the confusion to the Nigerian Football Federation’s conduct.
