Sports
Sani Calls On FIFA, CAF To Sanction Libya Over Super Eagles’ Ordeal
Former Senator Shehu Sani has called on the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to sanction Libya after Nigeria’s Super Eagles football team endured harsh conditions at a Libyan airport.
The team was stranded for over 14 hours without adequate provisions following a flight diversion.
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Recall that the Super Eagles departed Nigeria on Sunday, only for their flight to be unexpectedly diverted to a remote Libyan airport far from the match venue, resulting in an additional three-hour road journey to their destination.
During the extended delay at the airport, players, pilots, and other personnel were left without access to basic necessities such as food, water, or a place to rest.
Reacting to the incident, Sani took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday to demand serious action from the football governing bodies.
He tweeted, “Libya’s treatment of the @NGSuperEagles is unacceptable and condemnable. @FIFAcom and @CAF_Online must impose serious sanctions on them.”
The incident also drew condemnation from Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, who called the treatment of the team unacceptable and deplorable.
She criticized the lack of arrangements made to accommodate the players and warned about the dangers of road travel in Libya.
Efforts by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to provide alternative arrangements were reportedly frustrated by the Libyan authorities.
The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has taken a defiant stance ahead of the crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Nigeria, stating that there will be “no room for excuses” as their players prepare for the clash.
The statement comes amid controversy surrounding Nigeria’s decision to pull out of the match following an extended delay at Al Abaq Airport.
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In a post on its official X account on Tuesday, the LFF shared images of the Libyan national team’s training session at the Martyrs of Benina International Stadium in Benghazi.
The federation emphasized its commitment to playing the match as scheduled, with a caption that read, “Some may be used to putting up obstacles before the match, but here in the heart of Benghazi, specifically on the grounds of the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, there is no room for excuses after the starting whistle.”
The fixture has been thrown into uncertainty after Nigeria’s Super Eagles and officials were stranded at the airport for over 16 hours following an unexpected flight diversion on Sunday.
This disruption led the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to announce their withdrawal from the Group D qualifier, originally slated for today.
The LFF has condemned Nigeria’s withdrawal and accused the NFF of failing to cooperate in organizing both the initial and return legs of the qualifying tie.
The Libyan federation further criticized Nigeria’s decision, contrasting it with their own experience during the first leg, where the Libyan team faced what they described as “inhumane conditions” in Nigeria but still fulfilled the fixture.
The LFF’s message comes as both federations remain at odds over the situation, raising the possibility of legal action, with Libya vowing to take all necessary steps to protect its national team’s interests in the AFCON qualifiers.
The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has voiced its disapproval regarding the Super Eagles of Nigeria’s decision to withdraw from an upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, stating plans to take legal action against the Nigerian team.
The controversy arose when the Super Eagles arrived at Abraq International Airport, where they encountered significant travel disruptions less than 48 hours before their scheduled match against Libya’s Mediterranean Knights.
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Recall that the Nigerian contingent, which departed from Uyo on Sunday morning, was left stranded at the airport, raising serious safety concerns.
In light of these issues, the Nigerian players chose not to participate in the match, resulting in strong criticism from the LFF.
See statement below:
The Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national football team, have safely returned to Malam Aminu Kano International Airport following a difficult ordeal in Libya.
Biztellers reports that the team was left stranded at Abraq International Airport, less than 48 hours before their crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights, scheduled for Tuesday.
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The Nigerian contingent had departed from Uyo on Sunday morning, anticipating a smooth journey to Libya for the upcoming match.
However, upon arrival at Abraq International Airport, the team faced unexpected complications that left them stranded and unable to proceed as planned.
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