The Nigerian Super Eagles’ AFCON qualifier trip to Libya became a logistical nightmare, raising serious concerns about Libya’s handling of the situation. CAF now faces three key issues that must be addressed:

1. Failure to Provide Proper Travel and Security Arrangements:
Libya failed to ensure smooth travel for Nigeria, diverting the team to an abandoned airport in Al-Abraq, where they were stranded for 15 hours without basic amenities. This compromised their ability to perform at the highest level and violated host nation responsibilities.

2. Inadequate Communication with CAF and the Nigerian Delegation:
For over 15 hours, Libya did not provide clear updates to CAF or the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), leaving the Super Eagles in the dark. Effective communication is crucial in such situations, and this failure damaged the credibility of the tournament.

3. Retaliatory Actions Instead of Following Protocol:
Rather than addressing any grievances from the first leg of the fixture through formal CAF channels, Libya appeared to retaliate by subjecting Nigeria to similar logistical issues. Such actions undermine the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play.

Libya’s mismanagement of the situation calls for CAF’s decisive response to uphold fairness, safety, and professionalism in African football.