The Libyan Football Federation has addressed the accusations from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) regarding the delays and difficulties faced by the Super Eagles ahead of their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
The Super Eagles were reportedly stranded at Al Abraq Airport for 15 hours after their flight was unexpectedly diverted just an hour before landing. Nigeria is set to face Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in the return leg of their AFCON qualifier on October 15, following a 1-0 win in the first leg, thanks to a late goal by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
The incident occurred on October 13 when the Nigerian team’s chartered ValueJet aircraft was redirected to Al Abraq Airport, over two hours away from their intended destination. This led to significant frustration among the Nigerian players, with team captain, William Troost-Ekong and others even considering boycotting the match.
In response, the Libyan Football Federation released a statement clarifying that the diversion was not an act of malice, but a routine air traffic control procedure. They expressed regret over the incident, stating, “We express our deep concern over the reports regarding the diversion of the Nigerian national team flight. While we regret the inconvenience caused, this was a result of standard air traffic control protocols and not intentional.”
The Libyan Federation rejected claims of sabotage, emphasizing that neither Libyan security forces nor the football administration deliberately caused the issue. “There are no grounds for accusations that Libyan authorities intentionally diverted the flight. Such claims are against our values, and we strongly reject any suggestion of bad faith or sabotage.”
The statement also pointed out that Libya’s national team faced similar challenges during their recent trip to Nigeria for the first leg of the AFCON qualifiers, but chose not to make public accusations. “Despite the difficulties we encountered in Nigeria, we did not question the integrity of Nigerian authorities. Football is meant to unite, not divide.”
The Libyan Football Federation reiterated its commitment to hospitality and respect for visiting teams, highlighting their tradition of welcoming international delegations. “In Libya, we take pride in our culture of hospitality. Our goal is to ensure that all visiting teams, including our African brothers, feel safe and respected.”
In conclusion, the Federation called for an amicable resolution to the misunderstanding, stressing their dedication to unity, sportsmanship, and friendship. “We hope this issue can be resolved in a spirit of understanding and goodwill. Our doors are always open to our Nigerian brothers and all African teams, as we continue to promote unity in football.”
