The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the postponement of the second leg match between Libya and Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The decision was communicated on October 15, 2024, the original date of the match.

CAF’s statement highlighted that the match will not occur as scheduled, indicating, “The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifier fixture between Libya and Nigeria will not take place as scheduled tonight. The matter will be referred to the competent CAF bodies.”

This decision follows the Super Eagles of Nigeria’s announcement that they would forfeit the match due to delays experienced at the airport upon their arrival from Nigeria.

The players reported that they were not in the right mindset and were physically unprepared to compete.

Team captain William Troost-Ekong previously addressed the situation on social media, emphasizing that while football is fundamentally about respect for opponents, that respect must begin with respecting oneself and the circumstances surrounding the game.

He said,

12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Lybia after our plane was diverted whilst descending. Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason. They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games. I’ve experienced stuff before playing away in Africa but this is disgraceful behaviour. Even the Tunisian Pilot who thankfully managed to navigate the last minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land had never seen something like this before.”

He added,

“Upon arrival he tried to find a nearby airport to rest with his crew to be denied at every hotel again under Government instruction. He could sleep there but NO NIGERIAN crew members allowed. They have returned to now sleep on the plane which is parked up. At this point we have called for our Nigerian Government to intervene and rescue us. As the captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game. CAF should look at the report and what is happening here. Even if they decide to allow.”

this kind of behaviour, let them have the points. We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security it’s not safe. We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us IF we continued. We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen but these things on purpose have nothing to do with int. football. We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen but these things on purpose have nothing to do with int. football.”

However, both teams will wait for CAF’s final verdict to decide if the points will be awarded to Libya or Nigeria or if the game will be rescheduled.

CAF Media Statement on TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Fixture: Libya vs Nigeriahttps://t.co/9VHehOkJsy

— CAF Media (@CAF_Media) October 15, 2024

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The Libyan Football Association (FA) has released an official statement addressing the situation involving the Super Eagles of Nigeria, who were stranded at the airport for nearly 20 hours ahead of their AFCON 2025 qualifier against Libya.

The Super Eagles’ flight, initially scheduled to land in Benghazi, was diverted to another airport located approximately 240 kilometers away from their intended destination.

In their statement, the Libyan FA denied all allegations circulating on social media, where many Nigerians have accused Libyan authorities of intentionally causing delays to disadvantage the Nigerian team.

The Libyan FA clarified that the incident was not a deliberate act aimed at adding stress or hindering the Nigerian squad ahead of the match.

They emphasized that the diversion of the plane was due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control, and they expressed regret over the inconvenience caused.

The FA also reiterated their commitment to ensuring fair play and professionalism in organizing the AFCON qualifiers, distancing themselves from any wrongdoing or ill-intentioned actions.

They called for understanding from both the Nigerian team and fans while emphasizing that they are working to resolve the situation promptly.

“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. While we regret any inconvenience caused, it is essential to note that such incidents can occur due to routine air traffic control protocols, security checks, or logistical challenges that affect international air travel. These are standard procedures at airports worldwide, and delays or rerouting, though unfortunate, are not uncommon.

We have the utmost respect for our Nigerian counterparts and want to reassure them that the diversion of their flight was not intentional. There are no grounds to accuse the Libyan security teams or the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately orchestrating this incident. Such actions are inconsistent with our values and principles.

We firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation. It is important to highlight that just last week, our own national team faced significant challenges upon our arrival in Nigeria for the third match of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification.

Despite the difficulties we encountered, we did not make public accusations nor question the integrity of the Nigerian authorities. Football, in its essence, unites nations, and we are committed to upholding the spirit of fairness and mutual respect both on and off the field.

In Libya, we pride ourselves on our hospitality and our welcoming nature. We have always prioritized treating all visiting teams, including our African brothers and other international delegations, with the respect and dignity they deserve. Hosting these events is a great honor for us, and we strive to ensure that all teams feel safe and respected as our guests. This commitment to equality and hospitality is a core aspect of our culture and tradition.

We hope that this misunderstanding can be resolved with understanding and goodwill. Our doors are open to our Nigerian brothers and all African teams, and we continue to promote the spirit of unity, sportsmanship, and friendship in the world of football.”

The Super Eagles will not play the game on Tuesday as initially planned, according to a statement earlier issued by the Nigeria Football Federation.

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