The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has strongly criticized Nigeria’s choice to withdraw from the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, indicating that it plans to pursue legal action to defend its national team’s interests.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles recently decided to pull out of the match, originally set for Tuesday, October 15, citing safety concerns after they encountered over 13 hours of delays at Al Abaq Airport due to an unplanned flight diversion.
In a report from The Libya Observer, the LFF accused the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) of a lack of cooperation in organizing the match, which, according to them, hindered efforts for a smooth event. The LFF emphasized that they would explore legal options to maintain the integrity of their national team and to address what they view as Nigeria’s uncooperative behavior.
“The Libyan Football Federation denounces the actions taken by the Nigerian Football Federation in refusing to participate in the AFCON qualifier match between Libya and Nigeria, initially scheduled for Tuesday, October 15. The LFF is committed to taking all necessary legal steps to protect the rights of the Libyan national team,” the statement declared.
The LFF further claimed that the Nigerian Football Federation did not collaborate with them at any stage, whether for the initial match or the return leg, adding that the difficulties faced by Nigeria were minimal compared to those endured by the Libyan team during the first leg.
The LFF also expressed regret to fans for the confusion and delays surrounding the match arrangements, attributing these issues to Nigeria’s actions. They apologized to Libyan football supporters and those involved in organizing the match, stressing that the NFF’s actions caused the disruptions.
