Nigeria’s decision to skip their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match in Libya, citing “unfair treatment” of their team and subsequent return home, has eclipsed Algeria and Cameroon’s qualification for the 2025 football tournament.
On Monday, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed that their national squad had come back after their lengthy “ordeal” at an empty Libyan airport.
“The Nigeria delegation departed the Al Abraq Airport at exactly 15.05 hours [13:05 GMT], bound for the city of Kano, and onwards to the Federal Capital, Abuja,” the NFF said in a statement.
NFF director of communications, Ademola Olajire, outlined in a 20-point statement the team’s “ordeal on Libyan soil”, saying the “keenly-anticipated match” had been “relegated to a fiasco by Libyan federal authorities and Football Federation”.
The Nigerian team were held at an abandoned airport in Libya for more than 20 hours after their chartered flight landed on Sunday.
The Super Eagles had been due to land in Benghazi, but their plane was diverted to al-Abraq, 230km (143 miles) away from their intended destination.
Libya refutes mistreatment claims as CAF launches probe
Nigeria has lodged a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), prompting its disciplinary board to investigate the incident.
CAF stated it regarded “the troubling and unacceptable experiences of the Nigerian National Football Team at a Libyan airport with utmost seriousness”.
The statement also mentioned that CAF had been in touch with both Libyan and Nigerian officials.
“Those who breached CAF Statutes and Regulations will face suitable consequences,” the statement concluded.
Nigeria defeated Libya 1-0 in Uyo on Friday.
They top Group D with seven points from three matches, whilst Libya sit at the bottom with one point.
The Libyan Football Federation denied any wrongdoing, stating it held the “highest regard” for Nigeria.
“There is no basis to accuse Libyan security teams or the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately causing this incident,” it declared. “Such behaviour contradicts our ethics and principles. We strongly dismiss any suggestions of foul play or sabotage in this matter.”
The Libyan football body noted that its team “encountered significant obstacles upon arriving in Nigeria” last week.
