Football enthusiasts across the country are gripped by anxiety and suspense as the Confederation of African Football announces its decision on the botched 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group D tie between Nigeria and Libya on Wednesday (today).
The Nigeria Football Federation had lodged a complaint with CAF after the Libyan authorities subjected the Super Eagles to inhuman treatment upon arriving in the country for the second leg against the Mediterranean Knights on Sunday.
In a video posted by the Eagles media team, the players and officials were left stranded with their luggage at the airport, with the Libyan airport officials indifferent to their plight and conversing in Arabic.
Libya were scheduled to host the three-time African champions at the 10,000-capacity Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, located just 10 kilometres from Benghazi, but their plane was diverted to the Al Abraq Airport, which is over 200 km and three and a half hours drive from the planned camp site.
The Al Abraq International Airport, typically used for hajj operations, lacked basic amenities, leaving players and officials tired and frustrated. Neither a receptive team nor vehicles were provided by the Libyan Football Federation, forcing the Nigeria Football Federation to make an alternate transportation arrangement.
The Nigerian contingent was caged at the airport for over 20 hours without food or water and completely shut out of the world, compelling the West African giants to boycott the game.
In response to Nigeria’s protest, the Libyan Federation said that the Nigerians did not cooperate with them in any way, whether in the first or second leg, indicating that their experience is a child’s play compared to theirs while in Nigeria for the first leg.
CAF president, Patrice Motsepe, during a press conference on Tuesday after the 46th Ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said a proper investigation was ongoing, leaving all fingers crossed ahead of Wednesday’s decision.
Ahead of today’s judgement, some football enthusiasts have expressed worries and concern following Motsepe’s comment that the football governing body will go hard on offenders over poor treatment of visiting teams.
