Nigeria Refuses to Play in Libya Amid Allegations of Poor Treatment as Algeria and Cameroon Qualify for AFCON
The Nigerian team found themselves stranded at an airport located 225 kilometers (about 140 miles) from Benghazi, the venue for their match. Forward Victor Boniface expressed frustration on social media, stating, “We have been stuck at the airport for almost 13 hours with no food, Wi-Fi, or place to sleep. Africa, we can do better.” His comments highlight the challenging conditions faced by the players during their travel.
Former African Footballer of the Year, Victor Ikpeba, who was with the team in North Africa, voiced his discontent, claiming, “If CAF knows their job, Libya ought to be banned from international football.” This sentiment echoes the players’ concerns about the organization of the event and the treatment of the visiting team.
The Nigerian squad had previously defeated Libya 1-0 in Uyo last Friday, setting the stage for their return match. However, due to their treatment, the delegation decided to return home, prompting a response from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which confirmed the incident and stated that it would be investigated.
The Libyan Football Federation released a statement rejecting the accusations of foul play, asserting that they had not deliberately orchestrated any adverse conditions for the Nigerian team. They emphasized that such actions were contrary to their values and pointed out that their own national team had faced difficulties during their recent trip to Nigeria.
CAF has acknowledged the situation and mentioned that it is in contact with both Libyan and Nigerian authorities. The incident has been referred to CAF’s disciplinary board for further investigation, and appropriate actions will be taken against those found to have violated CAF statutes and regulations.
In other Group D fixtures, Nigeria and Benin were in contention for the top two places to qualify for the finals. Nigeria currently holds seven points, while Benin follows closely with six points. The group also includes Rwanda and Libya, who are struggling with only two and one point, respectively.
Meanwhile, in Group J, Cameroon secured their qualification for AFCON with a 1-0 victory over Kenya, thanks to a free-kick by substitute Boris Enow. In the same group, Zimbabwe’s 3-1 victory over Namibia has put them in a strong position for qualification as well.
Algeria also qualified after a 1-0 win against Togo, maintaining a perfect record in their group. Ramy Bensebaini scored the decisive penalty for Algeria, further solidifying their status as AFCON title contenders.
As the qualifiers continue, Nigeria’s situation serves as a stark reminder of the challenges teams face during international competitions, while Algeria and Cameroon celebrate their successful paths to the finals.
