2025 AFCON qualifier: Libya’s irrational tactics
By Dr. Salau D.F(Dee Elf) – NUGA Publicity Liaison Officer 1993-2001
The botched African Football Confederation qualifying match between Libya and Nigeria slated for Benghazi, Libya has generated a lot of comments as expected. It will be recalled that Nigeria boycotted the match slated for Tuesday 15th October 2024 after a 16-hour harrowing experience at a dilapidated Airport in Al Abraq 250 km (155 miles) away from the designated match venue.
The Super Eagles were due to play host Libya with the hope of getting qualification to the 2025 continental AFCON in Morocco. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) issued a statement backing the players who had agreed unanimously not to play the match due to the ordeal they were subjected to.
The chartered ValueJet aircraft was diverted dangerously and unethically to a smaller disused airport with poor navigational support according to the Pilot. The lives of the Nigerian delegation were put at risk all as a result of an alleged plan to weaken the strength of the Super Eagles on the field of play.
The Libyans apologised to their fans denouncing the actions taken by the Nigerian Football Federation by refusing to participate in the AFCON qualifying match saying it will take all legal measures to safeguard the interests of Libya’s first team.
The Libyans also complained that it was treated the same way before its earlier match in Uyo with Nigeria on Friday, 11th October 2024. The Libyans attached some inhuman footage which may have hindered its participation in the Friday Match on Nigerian soil.
But in Football, there is no room for retaliation. The Libya Football Federation had the opportunity to report the NFF to CAF when the incident happened in Nigeria. The LFF decided to retaliate with a higher degree of measure at the risk of the lives of the Nigerian delegation on-air and setting unnecessarily, all their officials against the delegation after landing. All these were done on purpose – Retaliation.
The quick intervention of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in the imbroglio has been applauded. It decided to postpone the match indefinitely and refer the case for investigation by appropriate authorities of CAF.
The era of using home advantage to suppress the performance of your opponent is gone in Football. The risk to life of the Nigerian Delegation was not taken into consideration by the LFF. The cruel division of the aircraft to a smaller without landing and clearing facilities at the dying minute by Libya’s highest authorities according to the Pilot does not tally with the ethos of Football. What would the Libyan authorities have said if the plane had had a mishap.
Available reports and videos of the behaviour of the Libyan Officials that led to the Nigerian delegation being held hostages for 16 hours should not be allowed to go unpunished by CAF if it wants to promote football in Africa.
A thorough investigation of the actions of the LFF and conniving authorities will assist CAF in eradicating attempts such as this that are rampant in African Football. Enough of these life threatening manipulations that does not promote the game of Football.
Dr Salau D.F (Dee Elf) writes from Lagos at [email protected]
