The Libya Football Federation (LFF) has threatened legal action against Nigeria after the Super Eagles withdrew from their scheduled 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matchday four fixture.
The Super Eagles were left stranded at Al Abraq Airport for several hours upon their arrival in Libya for the AFCON qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights, citing safety concerns as the reason for their withdrawal.
In response, the LFF issued a strong statement accusing the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of failing to cooperate.
“The Libyan Football Federation condemns the actions taken by the Nigerian Football Federation, particularly their refusal to play the scheduled Libya-Nigeria AFCON qualifying match on Tuesday, October 15. We will take all necessary legal measures to protect the interests of the Libyan national team,” the LFF’s statement read.
The LFF also compared the situation to their own experience during the first leg of the qualifier in Nigeria, where they claimed to have endured challenges beyond their control but still fulfilled their obligation to play. The LFF criticized the NFF for mismanaging both the home and away fixtures.
“The Nigerian federation’s lack of cooperation regarding both matches is deeply concerning. While we faced significant obstacles in the first leg, we still played the game out of respect for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and fair competition,” the LFF added.
Additionally, the LFF apologized to Libyan fans for the confusion and delay in the match arrangements, placing the blame squarely on the NFF’s actions.
“We sincerely apologize to Libyan football fans and other parties involved in the match arrangements for the disruption caused by the Nigerian Football Federation, which led to the match not being held on time,” the statement concluded.
As tensions rise between the two federations, the LFF appears determined to seek legal recourse while the future of the qualifier remains uncertain.
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