AFCON Qualifier Dispute: Libya Threatens Lawsuit Against Nigeria

Libya Sues Nigeria Over AFCON Snub

“The Libyan Football Federation condemns the measures taken by the Nigerian Football Federation by refusing...”

Libyan airport saga: Super Eagles endure 13-hour delay without essentials, LFF faces criticism for alleged manipulation.

Libya's reputation for questionable tactics is under scrutiny again, with critics accusing the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) of orchestrating a deliberate manipulation to gain an upper hand. This isn't the first time Libya has faced such allegations, and many are questioning the federation's intentions. The controversy surrounding the Super Eagles' recent experience at the Al Abaq Airport is just the latest incident fueling the fire.

The situation has sparked heated debate, with some suggesting that the LFF's actions were a deliberate attempt to disrupt the Nigerian team's preparations and gain a competitive advantage. While the truth remains unclear, one thing is certain - this drama is far from over! The tension between Libya and Nigeria's football teams is likely to continue, especially considering their history of competition in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers

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The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has come out swinging against Nigeria's decision to withdraw from their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match, citing safety concerns after being stranded at Al Abaq Airport for over 13 hours. The Super Eagles were scheduled to play against Libya's Mediterranean Knights on October 15, but the unexpected diversion on October 13 led to their withdrawal.

The LFF is now threatening to take legal action, claiming that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) didn't cooperate in organizing the match, which led to the confusion. In a statement, the LFF condemned the NFF's actions, stating that they will take all necessary measures to protect their national team's interests.

But here's the thing - the Nigerian team had a pretty rough experience, being stuck at the airport for hours. The LFF's statement seems to be shifting the blame, saying that the NFF was responsible for the mishandling of both the initial and return legs of the match. The Libyan Federation even apologized to their fans for the confusion, attributing it to the NFF's actions.

The statement read, “The Libyan Football Federation condemns the measures taken by the Nigerian Football Federation by refusing to play the Libya-Nigeria match in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, stressing that it will take all legal measures to preserve the interests of the Libyan national football team.”

The LFF shifted blame to the NFF, stating that the Nigerian federation's poor organization led to the mishaps in both matches, far surpassing any logistical issues encountered by the Nigerian team in Libya.

“The Libyan Federation attaches some inhumane footage that did not prevent the Libyan mission from playing the Nigeria-Libya match last Friday in Nigeria, out of cooperation with the Confederation of African Football.

“The Libyan Football Federation clarifies that its Nigerian counterpart did not cooperate with it in any way, whether regarding the first or second leg match, noting that the events beyond our control do not equal a small part of what the Libyan national team was exposed t the first leg match,” it said.

In a statement, the LFF expressed regret to Libyan fans for the disorganization and delays surrounding the match, pinning the blame squarely on the NFF.

“The Libyan Football Federation apologises to Libyan football fans everywhere and to the parties concerned with the match arrangements due to the state of confusion caused by the Nigerian Football Federation, which led to the match not being held on time, the statement concluded.

The controversy erupted after photos surfaced of Nigeria's Super Eagles sleeping on airport benches, sparking outrage from Nigerian authorities, and escalating further as the team endured a 13-hour ordeal at the Libyan airport without basic necessities.

The team's plight intensified as they were confined to the Libyan airport for 13 hours, denied basic human needs like sustenance, hydration, and rest.

The Super Eagles' captain, William Troost-Ekong, criticized the “unacceptable” conditions at Al Abaq Airport, accusing Libyan authorities of deliberate psychological tactics by canceling their landing permit and depriving the team of essentials.

This drama is far from over!