The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has criticised its Nigerian counterpart after its national side returned to West Africa before their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifier in Benghazi.
The Super Eagles squad decided to boycott the match, scheduled to be played at 19:00 GMT on Tuesday, after being stranded at Al Abraq airport when their plane was diverted there on Sunday.
After being kept at the terminal building, in a location about 230km (143 miles) away from their intended destination, the Nigerian delegation flew back home and arrived in Kano on Monday afternoon.
Libya trained and appeared set to turn up at the Martyrs Stadium in Benina in an attempt to fulfil the fixture but the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has confirmed the qualifier will not take place.
A statement from the LFF said it “condemns” the steps taken by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) in refusing to play the game, and said it would take “all necessary legal measures” to preserve the interests of the Mediterranean Knights.
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong defended the squad’s decision to boycott the match on social media.
“Football is about respect, and that starts by respecting ourselves,” he said in a post on X.
“Our goal of doing the best for Nigerian football won’t ever change. I look forward to continue our journey to Afcon 2025 next month in the right way.”
A Caf disciplinary board is investigating the circumstances after Nigeria were “stranded in disturbing conditions”.
There are several possible outcomes, with the potential for Libya to be awarded a 3-0 victory or Caf ordering the match to be played at a later date.
Appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport are also possible, and Nigeria are set to lodge an official complaint with Caf.
The LFF had earlier complained about the treatment of their players and officials on arrival in Nigeria for a qualifier in Uyo last week, which saw their flight land hours away from the match venue and the players endure long travel delays.
Nigeria won that match 1-0 to move on to seven points at the top of Group D, with Libya bottom on one point and on the brink of elimination.
Safety concerns
Grievances continue to emerge from both camps, with Libya claiming they had faced “challenging circumstances” and “unacceptable conditions” before the reverse fixture last Friday.
The LFF say their plane was sent to Port Harcourt rather than Uyo when they arrived in Nigeria.
However, the NFF has denied this claim and said it was Libya’s choice to travel to Port Harcourt, that it was only notified of the travelling party’s decision at a late hour and the LFF then rejected the transport options which were offered to their delegation.
The LFF said its team was forced to travel to Uyo “through dense forest and remote jungle roads in the middle of the night without any security escorts”.
The North Africans also complained of delays leaving Nigeria, and the suspicion in West Africa is that Libya deliberately resolved to give the Super Eagles a similar experience.
“The players expected a lot of antics from the Libyans but we didn’t expect it to be as bad as it happened,” NFF press officer Promise Efoghe told the BBC World Service.
“It was a horrific and harrowing experience.”
However, the LFF said the diversion of Nigeria’s flight on Sunday was “not intentional” and that such incidents can occur because of “routine air traffic control protocols, security checks, or logistical challenges that affect international air travel”.
Yet the NFF said they were not given a reason for the diversion or any update from the LFF, were not provided with food and drink or access to wi-fi and subsequently locked inside the terminal – with players forced to sleep on chairs.
“They were scared for their safety. Many couldn’t sleep,” Efoghe said.
“There was no way these players subjected to this kind of treatment – tired, weary, psychologically tortured – could have gone on to the pitch.”
Africa ‘has to do better’
Logistical challenges are often encountered by sides travelling across Africa in both club and international competition given the distances involved, with complaints common from visiting sides.
“It’s a long story and one that isn’t exactly new on the African continent,” Algerian journalist Maher Mezahi told BBC Focus on Africa podcast.
“Teams try and gain any kind of advantage possible.”
Nigeria’s experience was complicated by the political situation in Libya, with the country split between two administrations which both claim to be the country’s legitimate rulers.
However, Sudan are hosting Ghana in Benghazi on Tuesday and neither of those sides reported difficulties on their respective arrivals in Libya.
NFF press officer Promise Efoge said the incident could provide a catalyst to offer improve treatment of visiting sides in African competition.
“We have to do better in how we accommodate each other, with how we treat each other,” he added.
“It’s very important. Africa is a continent blessed by God, and we must reflect this in how we behave.
“Football is one sport that has helped Africa thrive. We shouldn’t spoil this.”
The next steps will be decided by Caf, but the Libyan Football Federation maintains it is not to blame for Tuesday’s qualifier not going ahead.
“The LFF apologises to Libyan football fans everywhere and the parties concerned with the arrangements of the match due to the state of confusion caused by the Nigerian Football Federation, which led to the failure to hold the match on time,” a statement said.