The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has asserted that Libya’s decision to change the flight plan for Nigeria’s Super Eagles must be respected, following the controversy surrounding the cancellation of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group D qualifier.
Tensions escalated after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) requested both the Libyan and Nigerian football associations to submit official documentation regarding the incident. The match was canceled after the Nigerian team refused to play, citing poor treatment when their flight was diverted to Labraq Airport. The team was reportedly stranded for 18 hours without food or water.
According to Libya Al-Ahrar Channel, Nasser Al-Suwaie, Secretary-General of the LFF, confirmed that CAF has set a deadline of the 20th of this month for the submission of documents related to the match’s cancellation. Al-Suwaie also disclosed that the LFF has hired a specialized lawyer to gather evidence and defend their case. He hinted at possible internal interference within CAF but expressed confidence in the Libyan Federation’s position.
Al-Suwaie clarified that the LFF was not responsible for the last-minute change of the Nigerian team’s flight destination. He stressed that the decision to divert the plane to Labraq Airport was made by Libyan state authorities and must be honored, as it was a matter of national sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Super Eagles returned home with troubling accounts of their ordeal. Team manager Patrick Pascal reported that the players had to sleep on the bare floor of the airport during the 18-hour delay and claimed that Libyan officials had deliberately disabled airport facilities, including the toilets, in anticipation of their arrival.
As CAF reviews the submissions from both federations, the outcome could have significant implications for future AFCON matches and the ongoing dispute between the two nations.
