Libya Dismisses Sabotage Claims Over Super Eagles' Delay

Libya Clears Air on Super Eagles' Delay

“Our doors are open to our Nigerian brothers and all African teams and we continue to promote the spirit of unity...”

Libyan Football Association Clarifies Super Eagles' Airport Delay: Logistical Issues, Not Sabotage

The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has addressed the controversy surrounding the Nigerian Super Eagles' delayed arrival at Al Abraq International Airport. In a statement released on Monday, October 14, the LFF attributed the prolonged wait to routine air traffic and logistical challenges.

Clarifying the situation via a post on X, the LFF emphasized that the rerouting of the Nigerian team's flight was purely logistical and not intended as a hostile gesture. The statement sought to dispel allegations of intentional wrongdoing.

“We firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation,” the LFF said in a statement.

The LFF highlighted a recent reciprocity, citing difficulties experienced by their own team during their visit to Nigeria for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Adding that, “we firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation.

“It is important to highlight that just last week, our own national team faced significant challenges upon our arrival in Nigeria for the third match of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification.

“Despite the difficulties we encountered, we did not make public accusations nor question the integrity of the Nigerian authorities.”

The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has clarified that the rerouting of the Nigerian delegation's chartered ValueJet plane to Al Abraq International Airport, instead of Benghazi, was simply a matter of following standard air traffic control protocols and security checks that come with international travel. This decision wasn't a deliberate attempt to inconvenience the Nigerian team, but rather a routine procedure to ensure safety and security.

In fact, the pilot was initially instructed to land in Benghazi, but was later redirected to Al Abraq International Airport by the control tower, despite having all the necessary landing papers. The airport's limited facilities and lack of scanning machines added to the delays, but the LFF maintains that the decision was purely logistical and not meant to be hostile.

“These are standard procedures at airports worldwide and delays or rerouting, though unfortunate, are not uncommon,” the federation stated.

The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has made it clear that they have the utmost respect for Nigeria and never intended to cause any inconvenience to the Super Eagles, who were unfortunately stuck at the airport for over 15 hours. In fact, they emphasized that the team's prolonged delay was simply due to routine air traffic and logistical challenges, rather than any deliberate attempt to sabotage. The LFF acknowledged that such logistical hurdles are not uncommon and expressed concern about the situation, reassuring that their intention was not to complicate matters for the Nigerian team. This clarification comes after the Super Eagles were rerouted to Al Abraq International Airport instead of Benghazi, Libya, where they were initially supposed to land.

The Libyan Football Association (LFA) has expressed concern over the prolonged delay of the Nigerian Super Eagles at Al Abraq International Airport, acknowledging that logistical challenges are an unfortunate reality in international travel.

“We have always prioritized treating all visiting teams, including our African brothers and other international delegations with the respect and dignity they deserve, the Libyan FA stated, reaffirming Libya's welcoming nature towards visiting teams.

In a call for unity and cooperation, the Libyan Football Association emphasized the role of football in promoting harmony and understanding. They urged for a resolution based on mutual understanding, highlighting the importance of solidarity in overcoming such logistical hurdles.

“Hosting these events is a great honour for us and we strive to ensure that all teams feel safe and respected as our guests.

“Our doors are open to our Nigerian brothers and all African teams and we continue to promote the spirit of unity, sportsmanship and friendship in the world of football,” the statement concluded.