The Nigerian Football Federation's decision to withdraw from the scheduled 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Libya has been met with condemnation from the Libyan Football Federation. The Super Eagles, Nigeria's national football team, cited safety concerns after being stranded at Al Abaq Airport for over 13 hours due to an unexpected diversion. Consequently, Nigeria pulled out of the match, initially set for Tuesday, October 15.
In a statement shared by The Libya Observer, the LFF accused the Nigerian Football Federation of failing to cooperate in organizing the match and causing the confusion that led to the current situation. The LFF emphasized that it will take all legal measures to preserve the interests of the Libyan national football team in response to the measures taken by the Nigerian Football Federation.
The LFF also highlighted that the incidents beyond its control could not be compared to what the Libyan team experienced in the first leg, suggesting that the Nigerian federation was responsible for the mishandling of both the initial and return legs. The Libyan Federation emphasized the inhumane conditions faced by the Libyan mission during the first leg match in Nigeria, underscoring the lack of cooperation from the Nigerian counterpart.
Furthermore, the LFF offered an apology to Libyan football fans for the confusion and delays in the match arrangement, attributing these issues to the Nigerian Football Federation's actions. The controversy surrounding the Super Eagles team sleeping on benches at the airport prompted condemnation from Nigerian authorities. The players, pilots, and other personnel were stranded at the Libyan airport for over 13 hours without access to necessities like food, water, or a place to rest.
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong described the conditions at Al Abaq Airport as "disgraceful," accusing Libyan authorities of deliberately playing "mind games" by revoking their landing permit and leaving the team stranded without basic amenities.