The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has firmly rejected allegations made by Faisal Al-Badri, the captain of Libya’s national football team, regarding poor treatment upon their arrival in Nigeria for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

Al-Badri claimed that the Libyan team experienced delays and difficulties after landing in Nigeria, including an extended baggage search and issues with transportation. He noted that despite arriving on a private plane, they were delayed for hours in moving between cities and had to use non-air-conditioned minibuses.

In response, NFF’s Assistant Director of Protocol, Emmanuel Ayanbunmi, clarified that the confusion was due to the Libyan Football Federation’s (LFF) failure to communicate changes in their travel plans in advance. The NFF had arranged to receive the Libyan team in Uyo but only learned of their arrival in Port Harcourt three hours prior.

Ayanbunmi further explained that the NFF had secured approval for the team to fly from Port Harcourt to Uyo but the LFF opted to travel by road to avoid extra charter costs. Additionally, the Libyan delegation chose to use their own buses rather than those provided by the NFF.

The NFF emphasized that they provided adequate security for the team and dismissed Al-Badri’s complaints, expressing confidence in their preparations for the upcoming qualifier.