Libya slam Nigeria’s withdrawal from AFCON qualifier, vow legal action

The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has condemned Nigeria’s decision to withdraw from the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, initially scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

The Nigerian Super Eagles cited safety concerns following a 13-hour ordeal at Al Abaq Airport after their flight was unexpectedly diverted.

In a statement shared by The Libya Observer, the LFF expressed dissatisfaction with Nigeria’s withdrawal, accusing the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) of failing to cooperate in organizing the match. The LFF also vowed to pursue legal action to defend the interests of Libya’s national team, highlighting the impact on the qualifying process for both nations.

This development follows days of frustration on the part of the Super Eagles, who endured poor conditions and delays at the Libyan airport, sparking safety concerns and widespread criticism from Nigerian authorities.

The statement read, “The Libyan Football Federation condemns the measures taken by the Nigerian Football Federation by refusing to play the Libya-Nigeria match in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, stressing that it will take all legal measures to preserve the interests of the Libyan national football team.”

“The Libyan Football Federation clarifies that its Nigerian counterpart did not cooperate with it in any way, whether regarding the first or second leg match, noting that the events beyond our control do not equal a small part of what the Libyan national team was exposed to in the first leg match,” it said.

The statement offered an apology to Libyan football fans for the confusion and delays in the match arrangement, attributing these issues to the Nigerian Football Federation’s actions.

“The Libyan Football Federation apologises to Libyan football fans everywhere and to the parties concerned with the match arrangements due to the state of confusion caused by the Nigerian Football Federation, which led to the match not being held on time,” the statement concluded.