Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Patrice Motsepe, has responded to the recent ordeal faced by the Nigerian national football team at Al Abraq Airport in Libya.
The Super Eagles were stranded for several hours en route to Benghazi for their 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya, an incident that has sparked widespread concern.
President Motsepe while speaking reaffirmed CAF’s commitment to accountability, stating that the organization is conducting a thorough investigation. “When the Nigerian national team experienced this issue in Libya, I won’t comment on it directly because there’s an ongoing investigation, but I want to stress that such behavior will not be tolerated,” Motsepe said.
He acknowledged that similar incidents have occurred in the past, where teams face delays at airports and are subjected to unnecessary checks or unfair treatment, including allegations during the COVID-19 pandemic where top players were falsely reported to have the virus. He emphasized that these actions reflect a lack of sportsmanship, and CAF is determined to address them more effectively.
CAF had earlier confirmed that it was in contact with both Libyan and Nigerian authorities after learning that the Super Eagles and their officials were diverted to Al Abraq Airport, which is more than two hours from their intended destination.
The Nigerian team was left stranded without transport for over 13 hours, sparking outrage just before their crucial second-leg AFCON qualifier against Libya.
CAF released a statement confirming that the incident has been referred to its Disciplinary Board for investigation, and appropriate actions will be taken against those who violated the organization’s statutes and regulations. As a result of the situation, the match was postponed.
