CAF verdict: Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs assures Nigerian citizens of their safety in Libya

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria has reassured citizens living in Libya of their safety following a recent ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

This ruling came in response to a complaint from the Nigeria Football Federation regarding the inhumane treatment experienced by the Super Eagles during their stay in Libya ahead of the 2025 AFCON qualifier encounter in October.

The incident in question occurred when the Nigerian national football team was detained for over 20 hours at Al-Abraq Airport after arriving for the second leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya's national team.

The team had originally been scheduled to land at Benghazi Airport and travel approximately four hours by road to Benina, where the match was set to take place.

However, less than an hour before landing, the pilot, a Tunisian national, reportedly received orders from Libyan authorities to divert the flight to Al-Abraq Airport, which is situated 150 miles from the intended destination.

The prolonged detention sparked outrage, leading to the Super Eagles' withdrawal from the qualifying match and prompting an official complaint to CAF. On October 26, CAF's disciplinary committee ruled in favour of Nigeria, awarding the Super Eagles three points and three goals for the abandoned match.

The committee found that the Libyan Football Federation had violated Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code. 

In addition to the point penalty, the Libyan Football Federation was fined $50,000, which must be paid within 60 days of notification.

Following the CAF ruling, there were reports of alleged mass arrests carried out by Libyan authorities, who claimed that Nigerians working in Libya would bear the cost of the fine imposed on the Libyan Federation.

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement signed by spokesman Eche Abu-Obe, assuring the public that Nigerian citizens in Libya are safe and continuing their daily activities without interference.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to convey that as of the time of making this statement, Nigerians in Libya are going about their daily activities, devoid of any form of harassment by Libyan authorities, following the verdict of the Confederation of African Football which indicted the Libyan Football Association for their ill-treatment of the Nigerian team and officials while in Libya for a Nations Cup Qualifying Match," the statement read.

The Ministry emphasized its commitment to the safety and well-being of Nigerian citizens abroad, stating, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to reiterate that the well-being of Nigerian citizens anywhere in the world is a top priority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and will continue to strive to safeguard it at all times."

Currently, Nigeria are top of Group D with 10 points from four games and are guaranteed of qualification to the biennial tournament with a point from their next two games against Benin and Rwanda in November.

Adeyemi Adewale

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