We Were Frustrated In Nigeria, Libya Responds To Super Eagles Travel Ordeal

The Libya Football Federation (LFF) has finally addressed the difficulties the Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, are facing in Libya. The Libyan federation revealed that their team was similarly frustrated while in Nigeria but chose to keep quiet about their travails.

The claim came following claims that the Nigerian team has been stranded in Libya for more than 14 hours.

GWG.ng reports that The Super Eagles had recently defeated the Libyan national team in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, as part of the AFCON 2025 Qualifiers. The two teams were scheduled for a rematch this Tuesday in Benghazi, Libya. To prepare for this, the Nigerian team traveled to Benghazi on Sunday using a private jet.

However, about an hour before the flight’s scheduled landing, the plane had to change its destination. The team ended up at Al Abraq International Airport, an airport mainly used for Hajj flights. Upon their arrival, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) tried to organize transportation by road to the match location. However, local airport officials prevented the team’s bus from entering the airport.

Because of these complications, the Super Eagles chose to cancel the match and return to Nigeria. This decision has sparked widespread reactions both online and from football officials.

In response to the situation, the LFF explained that there was no deliberate attempt to cause trouble for the Nigerian team. Their statement said: “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.” The LFF went on to explain that such changes are often the result of standard air traffic control protocols, security checks, or logistical challenges. They emphasized that this type of issue can happen anywhere in the world.

The LFF further added, “We have the utmost respect for our Nigerian counterparts and want to reassure them that the diversion of their flight was not intentional.” They stressed that there was no reason to blame the Libyan security teams or accuse the Libyan Football Federation of trying to sabotage the match. The LFF also pointed out that the Libyan team had faced similar challenges when they arrived in Nigeria for the first leg of the match, but they chose not to accuse Nigerian authorities of any wrongdoing.

The LFF reiterated that football is meant to unite nations and that they are committed to fairness and respect on and off the field. They added, “In Libya, we pride ourselves on our hospitality and our welcoming nature,” noting that they always aim to treat visiting teams with dignity and respect.

The statement concluded with a call for understanding and goodwill, expressing hope that the situation could be resolved peacefully. The LFF reaffirmed their commitment to promoting unity, sportsmanship, and friendship in football, especially among African nations.

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