The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued an official statement regarding the recent delay and mistreatment of the Nigerian national football team at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya.
The Super Eagles, along with their officials, were left stranded at the airport for over 15 hours without access to food, water, or internet.
The Nigerian team had traveled to Libya for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, originally scheduled for Tuesday, but the match has now been canceled following the ordeal.
The players and staff have since departed from Libya and will no longer participate in the fixture.
CAF expressed its concern over the incident and has referred the matter to its Disciplinary Board for further investigation.
In a statement released on Monday, CAF confirmed that it had been in contact with both Libyan and Nigerian authorities after learning of the situation.
“The Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) has been in contact with the Libyan and Nigerian authorities after it had been informed that the Nigerian National Football Team (‘Super Eagles’) and their technical team were stranded in disturbing conditions for several hours at an airport that they were allegedly instructed to land by the Libyan authorities,” the statement read.
CAF emphasized that the Disciplinary Board would investigate the situation to determine whether any violations of CAF Statutes and Regulations occurred and ensure that appropriate action is taken.
“The matter has been referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board for investigation, and appropriate action will be taken against those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations,” CAF added.
The incident has sparked outrage among football fans and officials, with many criticizing the handling of the Nigerian team’s arrival in Libya. Calls for accountability and a thorough investigation continue to grow as CAF’s Disciplinary Board begins its review of the case.
As of now, the Super Eagles have safely left Libya, and it remains unclear how this incident will affect future AFCON qualifying matches.
