In a dramatic turn of events in the world of African football, the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has issued a stern warning to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) regarding their recent decision to withdraw from the highly anticipated second leg of the Group D 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifier. The LFF is making it clear: they will not tolerate any excuses from Nigeria.
This fiery statement comes on the heels of the Super Eagles' tumultuous journey, where players and officials were stranded for over 16 hours at Al Abaq Airport due to an unexpected flight diversion. Their frustration led to Nigeria’s decision to pull out of the match initially scheduled for today, a move that has sparked outrage and condemnation from the Libyan side.
In a post shared on their X handle, the LFF highlighted their commitment to the game, stating, “Some may be used to putting up obstacles before the match, but here in the heart of Benghazi, specifically on the grounds of the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, there is no room for excuses after the starting whistle.” The message was clear: the show must go on, and the Libyan team is ready to compete.
The LFF did not hold back in expressing its disappointment, even threatening legal action to protect its national team’s interests. In a statement to The Libya Observer, they accused the NFF of failing to cooperate in organizing the match, which has led to the current debacle. "The Libyan Football Federation condemns the measures taken by the Nigerian Football Federation by refusing to play the Libya-Nigeria match in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers scheduled for Tuesday, October 15," they said, vowing to take all necessary legal steps.
The tension escalates as the LFF reminds everyone of the challenges their own team faced during the first leg in Nigeria, emphasizing that their struggle should not be dismissed. "The Libyan Federation attaches some inhumane footage that did not prevent the Libyan mission from playing the Nigeria-Libya match last Friday in Nigeria, out of cooperation with the Confederation of African Football," they declared, underlining the sacrifices made by their players.
The message from Libya is clear: they refuse to be sidelined by Nigeria’s logistical challenges. The federation insists that the incidents beyond their control are incomparable to the hurdles they faced. As both teams stand on the precipice of a critical match, the stakes are higher than ever, and the battle off the pitch may prove just as intense as the one that awaits on the field.
