The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has expressed outrage and threatened legal action following Nigeria’s decision to withdraw from their scheduled 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
The match, initially slated for Tuesday, October 15, was cancelled after the Super Eagles cited safety concerns stemming from a prolonged ordeal at Al Abaq Airport in Libya.
The Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, were stranded at the airport for over 13 hours after an unexpected flight diversion on Sunday.
Photos of the players sleeping on benches went viral on Monday morning, sparking outrage from Nigerian authorities and widespread condemnation on social media.
The players were reportedly left without access to basic necessities such as food, water, or proper rest during the long wait.
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In response, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) opted to pull the team out of the match, citing the security risks and poor treatment. The decision has now led to a diplomatic dispute between the two football associations.
The LFF, in a statement released on Monday night, October 14, accused the NFF of failing to cooperate in the organisation of the match and blamed Nigeria for the confusion.
“The Libyan Football Federation condemns the measures taken by the Nigerian Football Federation by refusing to play the Libya-Nigeria match… stressing that it will take all legal measures to preserve the interests of the Libyan national football team,” the statement read.
The LFF further claimed that incidents beyond its control at the airport should not have warranted Nigeria’s withdrawal, especially given the challenges the Libyan team faced during the first leg of the match in Nigeria.
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“The events beyond our control do not equal a small part of what the Libyan national team was exposed to in the first leg match,” the statement added.
While apologising to Libyan football fans and concerned parties, the LFF placed full responsibility for the chaos on the Nigerian Football Federation, insisting that the match cancellation was a result of Nigeria’s refusal to cooperate.
As the standoff continues, the LFF’s threat of legal action looms large, with potential repercussions for both teams and the broader AFCON qualifying process.
Neither the Confederation of African Football (CAF) nor the Nigerian Football Federation has released an official statement addressing the situation as of yet.