Last Sunday, the World woke up to the amazement of how Libya dehumanized the Super Eagles of Nigeria because of ordinary round leather-game.
Since the advent of Football, it has been a unifying and entertainment tool. The World Football Governing Body, FIFA recognized that and chose “Fair Play,” as its slogan. Funny enough, the Libyan Football Governing Body also displays the FIFA’s flag with the inscription of Fairplay on it during matches and in front of their football secretariat. The question is, where is the fairplay in the madness they displayed recently?
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau who was amazed by the actions of the Libyan officials said, “I did not expect these shenanigans. What I am seeing is despicable and has no place in the game of football which is meant to foster excellent relationships among nations and bring people from diverse cultures, religious persuasions, economic and political interests together in an ambience of peace and joy.”
It will be recalled that a plane that was originally scheduled to land in Benghazi, was rerouted to Al Abaq, located two hours away from their intended destination. They actually wanted a situation whereby the team will travel by road in a volatile environment for two hours and get tired before the match. They also want to expose the team to dangers, in order to put fear into them especially when they know that most of the players are foreign based. The Togo attack in Angola during the Africa Cup of Nations in 2010 is still fresh in our memories.
The Pilot was quoted as saying, “The flight plan was to land at Benghazi, Benina, and we had approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority.
“However, as we began our descent, we were instructed to divert to Al-Abraq, which wasn’t even listed as our alternate airport. This decision came from the highest Libyan authorities. In aviation, we calculate fuel based on our destination. Diverting unexpectedly can compromise safety.
“I repeatedly questioned the directive and warned them about fuel limitations, but they insisted that we land at Al-Abraq, citing orders from the highest authority,” he noted.
Super Eagles winger, Moses Simon told OwnGoalNigeria.com recently that players were scared for their lives as they were policed by gun welding military men who were threatening to shoot them if they attempted to leave the airport vicinity. “We were there for over 18 hours. They look ready to shoot if we had tried to force our way out of the airport facility where we were held and the security men said if anything happened to us, it is none of their business,” he disclosed.
Meanwhile, Libyan Besiktas midfielder, Al Moatasem Musrati admitted that the Super Eagles were badly treated even though he revealed that they were also not treated well when they visited Nigeria.
He claimed that they were kept for three hours and driven in a malfunctioned bus but their maltreatment did not get the attention of the social media because there are no big stars in their team like the Super Eagles.
Let’s even admit that they needed the three points at stake by all means, is it at the expense of people’s lives who have families at home expecting their returns?
Why would the Libyan authority insist that the plane be diverted to another airport despite the plea by the Pilot that his fuel was running out. So they would have celebrated if fuel got finished and the plane crashlands? (God forbid).
Meanwhile, because of the crisis, CAF cancelled the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON qualifying match between Nigeria and Libya which was originally scheduled for 8p.m. on Tuesday, October 15.
In a statement released last Tuesday, CAF said the case between the two nations “will be referred to the competent CAF bodies”.
Recall that the Super Eagles along with NFF officials were abandoned at the airport for more than 18 hours without any arrangements for transportation, feeding or lodgings.
We also learnt that the Embassy of Nigeria in Tripoli wrote to the authorities in Benghazi, a fortnight earlier, that they would want to welcome the Nigeria delegation on arrival. The application was said to have been rejected outrightly hence a Super Eagles team that is well-respected across the globe was detained. Reports said nobody was allowed to leave the airport premises let alone allow NFF officials to make their personal arrangements for transportation or hotel accommodations.
Does it mean that the Ambassador, who is the representative of the President in any country cannot welcome his citizens? This is definitely intimidation or disrespect to the government of Nigeria. So the Ambassador has to take permission to welcome his citizens? Maybe the Ambassador does not know his right or he mistaken the Libyan government for Nigeria. What he needed to do is call the minister of Foreign Affairs for onward call to President Tinubu, go to the airport and rescue his citizens. Let them attack him and see what will happen to their own ambassador in Nigeria. So if the team is being attacked, the ambassador will stay away? What is the essence of having an ambassador or embassy in any country?
However, one is forced to ask what exactly is the problem with African football? Could it be the reason why they have not been able to win the senior World Cup because of this rivalry thing or win-at-all-cost?
We have discovered that issues are always cropping up during AFCON qualifying matches especially World Cup Qualifiers. If it is not taking opponents whose players play professional football overseas to bad pitches, it is delay tactics at airports or serving poisonous foods in hotels or bad officiating on the pitch including attacking the opposing team.
Is it that these guys don’t talk to themselves at the continental football level during CAF meetings, for them to know the implication of what they are doing? Have they ever heard that all these shenanigans mentioned above happen in European football? CAF and the member countries should grow up.
There is doubt that the madness displayed recently by Libya is uncalled for and very shocking, nobody in his right sense will behave like that no matter the issue before then. It is so childish and wickedness at the highest order – people’s parents, reduced to nobody. People who can afford anything with their wealth, feed many people are meant to sleep on ground and chairs like refugees? This is unfair!
Although they claimed that Nigeria abandoned them at the airport but I can vouch for the NFF that they cannot do such things. Libyan Football Federation is just looking for an easy way to qualify or get three points in a dubious way. Even if others agreed to maltreat opponents, the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Muhammed Sanusi will not accept let alone the President, Ibrahim Gusau who eschews wickedness.
This is not the first time they are maltreating Nigerian teams, Enyimba Football Club of Aba and Rivers United have suffered the same maltreatments in the hands of other countries especially the North Africa countries on several occasions during continental football club competitions. There was a time they delayed one of our teams at the airport, the players did not even warm up let alone train and they were about to be walked over by the referee despite the fact that they sent messages across and of course, they were walloped and CAF did not see anything wrong with that
It is either CAF is a paralysed organisation or the people running it are not good enough. It is because punishments are not meted out against countries misbehaving that is why it is persisting. Imagine, the madness displayed by Libya, all CAF could do is to postpone the match and later refer the case to a committee. No one should be surprised if the judgement is in favour of Libya because that has always been their trademarks. They are always against Nigeria. It was obvious in the last AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.
Meanwhile, if they eventually settle for replay, who pays for the traveling and other expenses? A reasonable organisation will award the three points to the team that was not only suffered but dehumanized; and bigger punishment for the host country for going against FIFA slogan (Fairplay), so as to put an end to such madness.
If CAF is bias, of course another country will definitely do the same tomorrow because they know they would go unpunished. Imagine, two clubs, Royal Moroccan Football Federation and Tunisian Football Federation whose wickedness is their trademark are supporting Libyan Football Federation for such an act.
Recently, a veteran Egyptian commentator, Issam El Shawali during his commentary on Egyptian Mauritania match said members of CAF executive committee who are Arabs should ensure that the judgment favours Libya. Are we supposed to be sentimental in issues of this nature or look at it wholistically? It is a shame that journalists are taking sides when they are supposed to be objective.
The annoying aspect is that the people representing Nigeria at CAF level have not said anything and might not because they are handicapped, they can’t talk, they are only there to help themselves and their family
I want to believe that there are some countries that you cannot maltreat and go scot free. Countries like South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire even Ghana will pay you back but Nigeria is always playing a big brother role and that is why they kept doing this.
If a child playfully slaps the father, and the mother says he should not be flogged because he is playing, tomorrow, he will knock the father on the head. I have not heard where an ant is greater than the elephant or an antelope chasing the lion even if they are playing.
Nigeria remains the giant of Africa and must rate itself as that, no matter the economic or security challenges it is presently experiencing. The federal government must take action against Libya and CAF if we must be respected. Nobody dares America or Israel because of the ways they handle issues. No country on earth can do that madness to an American let alone the national team.
Imagine how a little Libya downgraded our players who are well respected by their clubsides abroad. Private jets were sent to pick some of them back to the clubs, that is how highly rated they are.
We know President Bola Tinubu as a diplomatic person but this is beyond it. Nigeria can do without any country, late General Sani Abacha tried it when the United Nations and other international bodies sanctioned us. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo dealt with France when they were supporting Cameroun on Bakassi.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan wanted to dare FIFA but it took the intervention of some of us for him to reverse his decision.
Imagine UAE refusing to lift ban on visa to Dubai for Nigeria because of how we have downgraded ourselves.
This is the time for us to show who we are. I like the move by the House Committee Chairman on Sport, Kabiru Amadu who has asked that the Libyan ambassador be invited I would have preferred they invite the President of Libya and if he refuses to come, we cut off all ties with them. We don’t need them for anything. Other countries need us more and cannot do without us. If Germany, China, UK even the USA cannot do without Nigeria how much more a small country like Libya. Enough is enough!
