The Libyan Football Federation defended its government's decision to divert the Super Eagles' flight during the AFCON qualifier, resulting in Nigeria's team being stranded for 18 hours. Libya insists the decision respected the country's sovereignty, while CAF investigates the incident, requesting documentation from both football associations.
The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has defended its government's decision to divert the Nigerian Super Eagles’ flight during an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match. After the Nigerian team’s plane was redirected to Labraq Airport, the players were left stranded for 18 hours without basic amenities, prompting the Super Eagles to refuse to play the scheduled match.
Libya’s Secretary-General, Nasser Al-Suwaie, clarified that the decision was made by the Libyan government, not the football federation, emphasizing the country’s sovereignty in such matters. He noted that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has requested both the Libyan and Nigerian football authorities to submit relevant documents concerning the incident. Al-Suwaie also stated that the LFF has hired legal representation to gather evidence, maintaining that their position remains solid.
The Nigerian team, now back home, shared troubling accounts of their experience, with team manager Patrick Pascal recounting how players had to sleep on the floor and faced deliberate efforts to make their stay uncomfortable. This development has caused uproar on social media, further drawing attention to the strained relations between both nations in the AFCON qualifiers.
