The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has expressed disappointment in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for allegedly attempting to pull out of the second leg of the Group D 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
On its official X handle, the LFF shared photos of the Libyan players in training, emphasizing their readiness for the match against the Nigerian Super Eagles.
In a statement, the LFF said there should be “no room for excuses” ahead of the important fixture, which will take place at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi.
The tension between the two football bodies started on Sunday, when the Nigerian team experienced significant travel difficulties.
The Super Eagles were stranded at Al Abaq Airport for over 16 hours due to an unexpected diversion of their flight. This disruption led the NFF to consider withdrawing from the game, which was originally set for Tuesday.
However, the LFF was quick to condemn any such withdrawal, stating that it would not tolerate any attempts to avoid the match. The federation added that it would take legal action if necessary to protect the interests of the Libyan national team.
“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,” the LFF said in a statement shared by The Libya Observer. The LFF further criticized the NFF for not cooperating properly in organizing both the first and second legs of the tie.
The LFF also pointed out that the Libyan team faced challenges during the first leg of the match in Nigeria but still fulfilled its obligations. “The Libyan Federation attaches some inhumane footage that did not prevent the Libyan mission from playing the Nigeria-Libya match last Friday in Nigeria,” the LFF noted, accusing the Nigerian side of poor handling of the situation.
