Libyan Football Federation opens up on Super Eagles airport ordeal
The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has reacted to how the Super Eagles of Nigeria were stranded in the Airport in the country for over 12 hours.
The statement is coming on the heels of the controversy surrounding the second leg of the AFCON 2025 return leg game between Nigeria Super Eagles and Libyan National team.
According to a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the delegation of Nigeria to Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya as at Monday morning remained at the Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya.
Statement from NFF reads, “The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport away from Benghazi just as the pilot was completing his approach to the Benghazi Airport. We understand the Al Abraq International Airport is only used for hajj operations.
The NFF further said “Fatigued players and officials have remained nonplussed as the host Libyan Football Federation failed to send any reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, said to be 3 hours away in Benghazi.
Still, NFF made arrangements for separate vehicles for the team but the plan was unhinged by the diversion of the aircraft.
Following the controversy, the NFF and Super Eagles players have now decided to boycott the game and fly the team back to Nigeria.
The Libyan Football Federation in a statement however absolved itself from the issue, saying the incident could be attributed to the routines of air travels.
The statement reads;
We are deeply concerned about the recent reports surrounding the diversion of the Nigerian national team’s flight ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Libya.
While we regret any inconvenience caused, it is essential to note that such incidents can occur due to routine air traffic control protocols, security checks, or logistical challenges that affect international air travel.
These are standard procedures at airports worldwide, and delays or rerouting, though unfortunate, are not uncommon.
We have the utmost respect for our Nigerian counterparts and want to reassure them that the diversion of their flight was not intentional.
There are no grounds to accuse the Libyan security teams or the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately orchestrating this incident. Such actions are inconsistent with our values and principles.
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. Football, in its essence, unites nations, and we are committed to upholding the spirit of fairness and mutual respect both on and off the field.
In Libya, we pride ourselves on our hospitality and our welcoming nature. We have always prioritized treating all visiting teams, including our African brothers and other international delegations, with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Hosting these events is a great honor for us, and we strive to ensure that all teams feel safe and respected as our guests. This commitment to equality and hospitality is a core aspect of our culture and tradition.
We hope that this misunderstanding can be resolved with understanding and goodwill. 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” it concluded.
