The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has launched an investigation into the controversy surrounding Nigeria’s AFCON qualifier against Libya. CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced on Tuesday that “appropriate action will be taken” following the disturbing treatment of Nigeria’s Super Eagles at Al Abraq Airport in Libya.
The Super Eagles were diverted to Al Abraq Airport, a small airport primarily used for hajj operations, and stranded for over 15 hours without assistance from the Libyan Football Federation. This incident has sparked outrage and led to the Nigeria Football Federation pulling out of the match against Libya.
Motsepe emphasized that CAF will no longer tolerate such instances of poor sportsmanship across the continent. “Too many stories have been told of national teams or football clubs going to a country, and they spend hours at the airport, being asked about documents that don’t exist,” he said.
The CAF President highlighted the principle of fairness in competition and the importance of treating visiting teams with respect and dignity. “We are proud of those nations that treat visiting national teams and football clubs with the respect and dignity they deserve,” he added.
Motsepe assured that CAF is reviewing its regulations and will enforce stricter measures to prevent similar incidents. “If there are violations of those regulations and those rules, we will take action. But sportsmanship remains a core value in African football.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had reported that the team was diverted to Al Abraq Airport, over two hours’ drive from Benghazi, without prior notice. The players and officials were left stranded without food, water, or communication.
The incident has attracted widespread condemnation, with many calling for accountability and fair treatment of football teams.
CAF’s investigation and subsequent actions will be closely watched by the football community, as the continent’s governing body seeks to uphold the values of sportsmanship and fair play.
