In a recent ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Committee, Nigeria was awarded three points and three goals in light of violations committed by the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) during a match between the two nations.
This decision comes in the context of a formal complaint lodged by the Nigeria Football Federation concerning the treatment of the Super Eagles during their recent visit to Libya.
The Nigerian team experienced significant delays upon arrival at Al-Abraq Airport, remaining in limbo for over 20 hours due to an unexpected diversion of their flight that was originally scheduled to land in Benghazi.
These circumstances led to considerable frustration for the team, ultimately resulting in their withdrawal from the match.
On October 26, the CAF disciplinary committee issued its ruling, which included a fine of $50,000 to be paid by the LFF within 60 days.
The decision has generated considerable backlash from Libyan officials, notably from LFF President Nasser Al-Suwai'I, who characterized the ruling as "unjust and malicious," alleging undue influence from the Nigerian Football Federation.
In response, Libyan media outlets have called for the arrest of Nigerians residing in Libya without proper documentation, suggesting that the financial penalties imposed on the LFF will adversely affect the Nigerian populace in Libya.
This sentiment has been echoed across social media platforms, which have raised concerns regarding the economic contributions of Nigerian workers.
A local blog, Libya News Today 1, has publicly urged the Libyan government to detain undocumented Nigerian workers, proposing fines of $500 and appropriate taxation measures. With a following exceeding 188,000 on Facebook, the blog's call to action has gained substantial traction.
Reports indicate that mass arrests of Nigerians commenced shortly after the CAF ruling was announced.
Adenaike Emmanuel, a resident of Tripoli, told Circleson Television that Nigerians staying in Libya have been targeted irrespective of their legal immigration status. "Arrests have already begun in my area, and similar incidents are reported throughout the capital," he stated.
Peter Omoregbie, a leader within the Nigerian community in Libya, corroborated these developments, noting the apparent disregard by authorities for legal documentation during the ongoing crackdown.
Omoregbie expressed concern, stating, "Innocent individuals are being arrested. It is a distressing situation, and we are appealing for intervention."
He further mentioned that Libyan police have engaged in widespread operations that do not distinguish between individuals based on their legal status.
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