The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has expressed strong disapproval of Nigeria’s decision to pull out of the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier. In response, the LFF has vowed to take legal action to protect its national team’s interests.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles withdrew from the scheduled match against Libya, citing safety concerns after being stranded for over 13 hours at Al Abaq Airport. The delay, caused by an unexpected flight diversion, led to Nigeria’s decision to forgo the fixture set for Tuesday, October 15.
In an official statement shared by The Libya Observer, the LFF criticized the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for not cooperating with them during the match’s organization. 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 LFF also highlighted that the NFF had shown no cooperation throughout the preparations for both the first and second leg matches. The statement emphasized that the situation faced by the Super Eagles was minimal compared to the challenges the Libyan team encountered during the first leg. This reference suggests that Libya had previously faced similar or worse logistical difficulties, which they managed without pulling out.
The LFF apologized to Libyan football fans, acknowledging the confusion and delays surrounding the match arrangements. It attributed these issues to the Nigerian Football Federation’s actions, which they claimed disrupted the schedule.
“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.
The LFF’s decision to pursue legal action demonstrates the seriousness with which it views the matter. As tensions escalate, the football community is watching closely to see how the situation unfolds and whether a resolution can be reached.
Leave a comment