The rivalry between Nigeria and Libya has reached new heights, with the two African football giants trading accusations of pre-match travel sabotage ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The spicy dimension added to the reverse fixture has created a tense atmosphere between the two nations.
The Super Eagles’ plane was unexpectedly diverted to a different airport, located 240 kilometers away from Benghazi, where the second leg of the series was scheduled to take place. According to team spokesman Promise Efoghe, the diversion occurred just an hour before landing.
While Libyan authorities remained silent on the reasons for the diversion, Ghana and Sudan, who were also playing in Benghazi on the same day, were allowed to land without any issues. Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong expressed his frustration on social media, accusing the Libyan government of rescinding their approved landing without explanation.
“They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games,” Troost-Ekong tweeted.
Libya captain Faisal Al-Badri countered these claims by alleging that his team was also mistreated in Nigeria during the first leg. He accused the Nigerian authorities of searching their luggage for an hour and delaying their transportation.
“We have suffered from this problem for many years, and although we are willing to tolerate it, there must be a solution to these practices,” Al-Badri said. “We demand that the relevant authorities look into these actions, and we express the need for reciprocity.”
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) refuted Libya’s claims, stating that the Libyans were responsible for their own chaos. Emmanuel Ayabunmi, the NFF’s Director of Protocol, revealed that the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) had failed to provide timely information about their team’s arrival.
The off-field drama spilled over into the game itself, as both teams engaged in time-wasting tactics and unsportsmanlike behavior. Nigeria eventually secured a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to a late goal from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
Nigeria coach Austin Eguavoen urged his players to remain focused on the task at hand, despite the distractions. “We just have to keep the boys focused and rested and prepared for the game,” he said. “We have a task to get six points from these two games.”
The Super Eagles will be hoping to secure a comfortable victory in the second leg to seal their qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. However, their striker Victor Boniface has been struggling to find his form, and Nigeria will need him to step up if they are to achieve their goal.
