The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has condemned Nigeria's decision to withdraw from the second-leg AFCON qualifier match in Benghazi, stating it will pursue legal action to protect the interests of the Libyan national team. In a statement shared by The Libya Observer, the LFF expressed its discontent, noting that despite facing poor treatment in Nigeria during the first-leg match, Libya still chose to proceed with the game. They also claimed that the Nigerian side was uncooperative with the Libyan delegation.
The LFF pointed out that the treatment they endured in Nigeria was far worse than what the Super Eagles experienced in Libya. This reaction follows the Nigerian team’s decision to withdraw from the match, citing safety concerns after being stranded for over 13 hours at Al-Abraq Airport without basic necessities like food, water, or rest facilities.
Photos of the Super Eagles sleeping on benches at the airport circulated online, sparking an outcry. Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong called the conditions at the airport "disgraceful" and accused Libyan authorities of playing "mind games" by revoking their landing permit and leaving the team without access to essential services. Due to these circumstances, Nigeria decided to pull out of the match, originally scheduled for October 15.
In its statement, the LFF condemned Nigeria’s decision, saying: "The Libyan Football Federation condemns the actions of the Nigerian Football Federation in refusing to play the AFCON qualifier match scheduled for Tuesday, October 15. We will take all necessary legal measures to protect the interests of the Libyan national team."
The LFF also criticized the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for not cooperating with them during both legs of the fixture, stating that the challenges faced by Nigeria in Libya were minimal compared to what Libya endured during their visit to Nigeria. The LFF apologized to Libyan football fans for the disruption and delays, attributing the confusion to the NFF’s actions.
"The Libyan Football Federation apologizes to football fans everywhere and the parties involved in the match arrangements for the confusion caused by the Nigerian Football Federation, which led to the match not being played as scheduled," the statement concluded.
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