The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has addressed the incident involving the Nigerian national football team at a Libyan airport ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match for 2025. This marks the first time Motsepe has spoken publicly about the situation.
In a recent press conference, Motsepe condemned the circumstances surrounding the Super Eagles’ experience but refrained from making further comments until a formal investigation concludes. He stated, “We should have zero tolerance. When there was this problem with the Nigerian national team in Libya, I will not comment on that because there is a proper investigation.”
He emphasized the need for a strict approach, adding, “I want to emphasize a principle that we will not tolerate. This is something that has been going on for quite some time. Forget about the Libya vs Nigeria situation; appropriate action will be taken.”
Motsepe recounted similar incidents faced by football clubs and national teams traveling to various countries, where they encounter prolonged delays at airports and unjustified document checks. He noted, “I have heard too many stories about a football club or national team that goes to a country. You spend hours at the airport, and they ask you about documents that don’t exist.”
He expressed concerns over a lack of sportsmanship, stating that these issues have persisted for too long without effective action. He assured that CAF is reviewing existing regulations and prioritizing sportsmanship in future dealings.
Nigeria was set to play against Libya in the return leg of their qualifying match on October 15, 2024, but the team decided against participating after being held hostage for over 20 hours at the airport. Their flight to Benghazi was diverted just as the pilot was about to land, leading to significant disruptions in their travel plans. A verdict from CAF regarding the incident is forthcoming.