The Libyan Football Federation has addressed accusations made by the Nigerian Football Federation, which claimed that the Super Eagles team was held at Al Abraq Airport in Libya. This statement came after reports emerged that the Nigerian team was stranded for 15 hours following an unexpected diversion of their flight.
On October 13, the Super Eagles boarded a chartered ValueJet aircraft for their trip to Libya. However, just an hour before landing, their flight was diverted to Al Abraq Airport, which is more than two hours away from their planned destination. Upon arrival, the team was left without assistance and had to wait for several hours before their captain, William Troost-Ekong, brought attention to the issue.
The Libyan Football Federation explained that the flight diversion was not intentional but was due to standard air traffic control rules. They also highlighted that their own national team had faced similar challenges when traveling to Nigeria for the first leg of the AFCON qualifiers but chose not to make public accusations or blame Nigerian authorities.
The Libyan Federation stressed that logistical difficulties are common in international matches and urged both teams to stay professional and focus on the competition.
We are deeply concerned about the recent reports surrounding the diversion of the Nigerian national team’s flight ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Libya.
While we regret any inconvenience caused, it is essential to note that such incidents can occur due to routine air traffic control protocols, security checks, or logistical challenges that affect international air travel.
These are standard procedures at airports worldwide, and delays or rerouting, though unfortunate, are not uncommon. We have the utmost respect for our Nigerian counterparts and want to reassure them that the diversion of their flight was not intentional.
There are no grounds to accuse the Libyan security teams or the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately orchestrating this incident. Such actions are inconsistent with our values and principles.
We firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation. It is important to highlight that just last week, our own national team faced significant challenges upon our arrival in Nigeria for the third match of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification.
Despite the difficulties we encountered, we did not make public accusations nor question the integrity of the Nigerian authorities. Football, in its essence, unites nations, and we are committed to upholding the spirit of fairness and mutual respect both on and off the field.
In Libya, we pride ourselves on our hospitality and our welcoming nature. We have always prioritized treating all visiting teams, including our African brothers and other international delegations, with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Hosting these events is a great honor for us, and we strive to ensure that all teams feel safe and respected as our guests. This commitment to equality and hospitality is a core aspect of our culture and tradition.
We hope that this misunderstanding can be resolved with understanding and goodwill. Our doors are open to our Nigerian brothers and all African teams, and we continue to promote the spirit of unity, sportsmanship, and friendship in the world of football.
