The Libyan Football Federation has released a statement to deny accusations made by the Nigerian Football Federation that its squad and officials were being held hostage after they arrived in Libyan.
The statement follows reports that the Super Eagles were stranded at Al Abraq Airport for 15 hours over the unexpected diversion of their flight.
The Nigerian squad departed on October 13 via a chartered ValueJet aircraft, only to have their flight diverted just an hour before landing.
They landed at Al Abraq Airport, located over two hours away from their intended venue. They were left unattended and stranded for several hours before the Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong raised an alarm.
The situation prompted a statement from the Libyan Football Federation, stating that the diversion of flight was not intentional, but was due to a consequence of standard air traffic control protocols.
They also narrated the major challenges that their own national team faced upon arriving in Nigeria for the first leg of the AFCON qualifiers, without making public accusations or questioning the integrity of the Nigerian authorities.
We are deeply concerned about the recent reports surrounding the diversion of the Nigerian national team’s flight ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Libya.
While we regret any inconvenience caused, it is essential to note that such incidents can occur due to routine air traffic control protocols, security checks, or logistical challenges that affect international air travel.
These are standard procedures at airports worldwide, and delays or rerouting, though unfortunate, are not uncommon. We have the utmost respect for our Nigerian counterparts and want to reassure them that the diversion of their flight was not intentional.
There are no grounds to accuse the Libyan security teams or the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately orchestrating this incident. Such actions are inconsistent with our values and principles.
We firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation. It is important to highlight that just last week, our own national team faced significant challenges upon our arrival in Nigeria for the third match of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification.
Despite the difficulties we encountered, we did not make public accusations nor question the integrity of the Nigerian authorities.
Football, in its essence, unites nations, and we are committed to upholding the spirit of fairness and mutual respect both on and off the field.
In Libya, we pride ourselves on our hospitality and our welcoming nature. We have always prioritized treating all visiting teams, including our African brothers and other international delegations, with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Hosting these events is a great honor for us, and we strive to ensure that all teams feel safe and respected as our guests. This commitment to equality and hospitality is a core aspect of our culture and tradition.
We hope that this misunderstanding can be resolved with understanding and goodwill.
Our doors are open to our Nigerian brothers and all African teams, and we continue to promote the spirit of unity, sportsmanship, and friendship in the world of football.
