“AFCON 2025: Libya Accuses Nigeria of Causing Postponement of Key Qualifier”

• Blame for Postponement: LFF holds Nigeria responsible for the match delay due to mistreatment.
• Nigerian Team’s Experience: Players were stranded for over 16 hours without food or water.
• LFF’s Statement: The incident was unintentional; LFF urges understanding and will take legal measures.
• CAF Involvement: The Confederation of African Football is investigating the situation.
• Previous Complaints: The LFF had earlier reported poor treatment during their visit to Nigeria for a qualifier.

The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has attributed the postponement of Tuesday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Benghazi to Nigeria’s refusal to participate, citing mistreatment upon arrival in the country.

Nigerian players and officials were detained in a locked airport for over 16 hours, nearly 250 kilometers from their intended destination. Their charter flight was redirected to Bayda while approaching Benghazi. During this period, they reported having no access to food or water and no communication from Libyan officials, prompting them to decide to return to Nigeria rather than fulfill the fixture.

In a statement on Monday, the LFF emphasized that the incident was not intentional and called for understanding from Nigeria, noting that their own players had faced travel difficulties the previous week. They asserted, “We would NEVER treat a guest nation in this way. Mistakes and delays happen, but never on purpose!”

The Confederation of African Football has since referred the matter to its disciplinary board. In response, the LFF expressed disappointment with the actions of the Nigeria Football Federation and stated that it would pursue all necessary legal measures to protect the interests of its national team. The LFF also issued an apology to Libyan football fans and all parties involved for the confusion caused by the Nigerian Football Federation, which ultimately led to the match’s postponement.

Previously, the LFF had raised concerns about the treatment of their players during a qualifier in Uyo, Nigeria, where their flight faced significant delays. Nigeria won that match 1-0 and is currently well-positioned to qualify for the Cup of Nations finals, set to take place in Morocco late next year, with the top two teams from each qualification pool advancing.