International football has seen its fair share of logistical nightmares, but what unfolded during Nigeria’s ill-fated trip to Libya for an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier set a new precedent for how things can go wrong.
The Super Eagles, three-time AFCON champions, found themselves in an alarming situation: stranded at an abandoned airport for over 15 hours without food, water, or even basic communication.
What could have been a simple game turned into a diplomatic footballing fiasco, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) now has a major case on its hands.
Libya’s conduct throughout this ordeal has raised serious questions, and there are three glaring mistakes CAF cannot afford to ignore.
Each misstep reveals a lack of professionalism and sets a dangerous precedent for how host nations handle visiting teams.
1. Failure to provide proper travel and security arrangements
In the world of international football, basic hospitality is a given—especially when dealing with teams on the global stage like Nigeria.
However, Libya’s failure to organize proper travel and security arrangements for the Super Eagles was not just an oversight; it was a fundamental breach of responsibility.
Instead of landing in Benghazi, where their match was scheduled, the Nigerian team was diverted to an airport in Al-Abraq.
The airport itself was virtually abandoned, lacking essential services such as food, water, or adequate seating.
This 15-hour ordeal left the Nigerian players fatigued and frustrated, compromising their ability to compete at the highest level.
In international football, logistics can often decide a game before a ball is even kicked.
By not ensuring safe and smooth travel for the Super Eagles, Libya failed to meet the basic standards expected of a host nation.
CAF must seriously consider how this negligence affected Nigeria’s ability to participate fairly in the match.
2. Inadequate communication with CAF and the Nigerian delegation
In situations like this, communication is key.
Once Libya became aware of the disruption in the Super Eagles’ travel plans, there should have been immediate, transparent communication with both the CAF and the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
Yet, for over 15 hours, Nigeria’s delegation was left in the dark. No one knew when, or if, they would be able to leave the airport or continue with the scheduled match.
Libya’s refusal to reach out to CAF and initiate emergency protocols to resolve the situation is a significant failure.
In modern football, where every second counts, particularly in high-stakes AFCON qualifiers, being stranded for hours without updates or solutions speaks to a complete breakdown in organisation.
CAF needs to take a hard stance on this, as it undermines the credibility of international tournaments and compromises the safety and well-being of teams.
3. Retaliatory actions instead of following protocol
One of the more concerning aspects of this incident is the suspicion that Libya’s actions may have been fueled by a desire for revenge.
In the first leg of this fixture, held in Nigeria, the Libyan team reportedly experienced logistical difficulties.
Rather than filing a formal complaint with CAF as per the protocol, Libya appeared to respond by subjecting the Super Eagles to their own version of “payback.” This was not the time for retaliation—it was the time for professionalism.
Football disputes should be settled on the pitch, not through underhanded tactics off it. By allowing this mistreatment to happen, Libya essentially turned a sporting contest into a political game.
CAF cannot overlook this, as it sets a dangerous precedent where countries might feel justified in mistreating visiting teams in response to perceived slights.
This undermines the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play that CAF and international football strive to uphold.
In conclusion, Libya’s handling of Nigeria’s visit represents a failure on multiple fronts—logistics, communication, and professionalism.
CAF now faces the challenge of responding decisively to ensure that such a scenario does not repeat itself in future international fixtures.
If CAF hopes to maintain its credibility and safeguard the integrity of African football, it must hold Libya accountable for these glaring mistakes.
Anything less would send the wrong message to host nations across the continent.
This dispute is about more than just one match — it’s about upholding the principles of fairness, safety, and sportsmanship in African football.
Please, let’s ensure that the Nigerian Team never ever plays in Libya again in future. Any match between the two teams in future should be played on a neutral ground as people with this kind of mindset may still find a way to revenge any punishment they might get as a result of what is happening now.
They might decide to poison our players in future if they have another chance to host us.
Let’s be careful with these kind of people with evil mindset.
it is only a mad beast that behaved the way Libya put Nigerians into hostage. this is their usual way even with their club sides. Libya should be ban for nothing less than 15 years from hosting international matches
It’s unfair to treat the super eagles in this way. Didn’t the Libyan team drank and ate in Nigeria? They were to land in Uyo and they decided another state, it’s not easy going to pick them from that state to Uyo within an hour. Let love lead.
Libya is known for mistreating visiting teams both at club and national level. It’s time CAF takes a decisive action against them to serve as a deterrent to other countries with such tendencies in future.
those Libya team and there FA are naturally wicked and evil,I pray CAF should do the needful for justice to be done against evil Libya,
Caf need to stand against this devilish mindset that’s why people from other part of the world look down on Africa football also on africa players.
CAF have said all because how can u will expecting someone without preparation and after that Libya didn’t call them
libya should adjust this kind of attitude, it is not good at all. becouse when the super eagle are on the sky , the pilot by him self complain to the libya high authority that he is in high risk of fuel , he call them eight time but they did not listen to him. that is how he go and land for that abandon airport by force, no standard communication, no light . SO PLEASE THIS SHOULD NOT REPEAT HIM SELF.
I have to be honest to Nigerians, we should blame our Embassy in Tripoli Libya . They are an accomplice to Libya maltreatment of Nigerians in Libya. You know how many Nigerians Libyan had kpaied in Libya and Libya Government will pay Nigeria Embassy to overlook at it and cover it up….Nigeria Embassy in Libya knew how animalistic these people are . They supposed to have been there before the arrival of those players. But shame will not let them come bcos those Libyans will disgrace them… Only few boys from the Embassy later brought food to the players.It was a letter we wrote to Obama Government that prompted a lot of investigations about Libya when they started harvesting migrants organs which they are still doing till date. Libya is no difference from a vampire’s jungle. No Nigeria should dare to go to Libya for any football match again.
THIS SHOULD BE THE FIRST ANDTHE LAST TIME THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE WE THE NIGERIANS ARE NOT SMILING
Ada how on earth do you expect the Nigeria Embassy based in Tripoli to act when arrangements were made to play in Benghazi. The plane was diverted . The airport where they landed was abandoned and locked -the Libya FA say nothing to do with them . The county has 2 governments – the country is a war zone . This was a calculated act by the Libyans – and they should be punished. If they were treated poorly they should have made an official complaint. You don’t keep people
Hostage for 16 hours – if this was the USA , the marines would have removed them from the airpirt
The afcon need to question them that why did the Libya team land in portcort