BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Libyan Football Association has denied the accusation of sabotage leveled against its country for purportedly abandoning Nigeria's Super Eagles team at the airport.
This is even as the association emphatically stated that Libyan national team faced similar treatment upon their arrival in Nigeria for the third match of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
News Rider had reported that the Super Eagles were abandoned at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya for 12 hours since their arrival on Sunday afternoon.
The Eagles had travelled to Libya for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya scheduled to hold on Tuesday.
But the team, alongside the Nigerian delegation en route to Benghazi for the qualifying match met their waterloo when the chartered aircraft was strangely diverted to Al Abraq, a small airport used for hajj operations.
In a statement via its official handle on X, the Libyan FA on Monday, noted that despite the difficulties they encountered in Nigeria, they did not accuse or question the integrity of the Nigerian authorities.
The Libyan FA hinted that the issue faced by the Super Eagles occurred as a result of logistic challenge, regretting any inconvenience caused by the failed arrangement.
Shortly after team Nigeria's arrival on Sunday, October 13, the team and officials were denied further assistance from the Libyan Football Federation, even as they failed to arrange for transportation to their hotels in line with the rules governing Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Findings by News Rider revealed that the cruelty by Libyan FA already propelled the NFF and Super Eagles squad to pull out of the AFCON match against Libya, just as the team are already on their way back to Nigeria.
The Libyan statement reads: "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 honour 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."
The delays and abandonment could be clearly described as an act of vendetta irrespective of Libya's lengthy statement and apology.
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