Nigeria boycott AFCON qualifier in Libya after 'inhumane treatment' / Photo: Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO - AFP
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Nigeria boycott AFCON qualifier in Libya after 'inhumane treatment'
The Nigeria Football Federation said it will fly the national team back home Monday after alleged "inhumane treatment" in Libya ahead of a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
"Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF (the Nigerian federation) officials are making plans to fly the team back home," said NFF director of communications, Ademola Olajire.
A formal complaint by Nigeria has been sent to the Confederation of African football (CAF) whose disciplinary board is now investigating the incident.
The Nigerian team have been held at an abandoned airport in Libya for more than 15 hours since their chartered flight landed Sunday.
The Nigerian embassy in Libya reportedly cannot intervene as they would need permission to do so from the Libyan government.
Captain William Troost-Ekong said the team will not play the game and they will not make a three-hour bus ride from Al-Abraq to Benina, where the qualifier was scheduled to be played on Tuesday, for safety reasons.
"As the team captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game," he posted on social media.
"Let them have the points.
"We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security it's not safe. We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us if we continued."
CAF said they viewed "the disturbing and unacceptable experiences of the Nigerian National Football Team at an airport in Libya in a very serious light".
The statement added that CAF had been in contact with both the Libyan and Nigerian authorities.
"Appropriate action will be taken against those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations" the statement concluded.
The Libyan football federation denied any impropriety, saying in a statement it had the "utmost respect" for Nigeria.
"There are no grounds to accuse the Libyan security teams or the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately orchestrating this incident," it said.
"Such actions are inconsistent with our values and principles.
"We firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation."
- 'The team are not safe' -
Former African footballer of the year Victor Ikpeba, who accompanied the Nigeria team to Libya, has urged for stiff sanctions against Libya and supported the decision to boycott the match.
"If CAF know their job, Libya ought to be banned from international football," he told AFP.
"This is a high-risk country and one really wonders who approved for Libya to be playing their games at home.
"I played for the Super Eagles for 10 years and I never experienced what I have in Libya in the last hours."
"The team are not safe, those of us travelling with them are also not safe," he added.
"We were locked up in an abandoned airport for more than 10 hours like hostages.
"The team will call off their bluff and not play this match."
On Friday, Nigeria beat Libya 1-0 in the southern city of Uyo.
They lead Group D with seven points from three matches, while Libya are bottom of the standings on one point.
J.Berger--HHA
