While we are still discussing the recent ordeal that the Super Eagles and their officials passed through in the hands of the Libyan authorities and the Libya Football Federation (LFF), it is necessary to reiterate the fact that no football match, no matter how important, is worth anyone’s life. As we all know, life is sacrosanct and should be preserved at all times and in all circumstances.
It is now an open secret that the senior national team of Nigeria was billed to play the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in the return leg of the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers on Tuesday, October 15, in Bennia, but it wasn’t to be, as the host federation meted the most dehumanising treatment on the visiting contingent.
Oblivious of what laid ahead, the delegation of 22 players and team officials, some NFF bigwigs, government officials, and media practitioners, left the shores of Nigeria on Sunday, October 13, in high spirits. They had no premonition that they would be taken hostage for close to 20 hours in a foreign country.
The NFF said that just when the pilot of the chartered plane that lifted the Nigerian contingent was about to commence his initial approach into Benghazi, where he had gotten approvals to land, he was instructed by the control tower that he could not land there, but should proceed to the Al-Abraq International Airport, even though the airport lacked the control navigators for landing at such hours.
According to the football federation, the pilot complained that he was short on fuel, but his words fell on deaf ears as he was told in a stern manner that the directive was from ‘higher authorities. So, that began the delegation’s horrifying experience in Libya. The Super Eagles were detained for so many hours at the airport without food, water, and internet facilities. The NFF said there was no single official of LFF to welcome the delegation.
In fact, no hotel agreed to accommodate the Nigerian contingent because there were ‘instructions from above’ that the foreigners who had just arrived to pick the maximum points at the expense of the Knights must sleep on chairs inside a dingy airport.
Well, when it dawned on the visitors that they were actually clamped into detention for no good reason, they decided to cry out for help. It was then that Captain Williams Troost-Ekong tweeted on X to draw the attention of the world to their tribulation at the Al-Abraq airport. Immediately, there was an outpouring of condemnation against the Libyans and overwhelming calls for the ‘incarcerated’ Super Eagles to be liberated.
Interestingly, CAF responded almost immediately as it condemned and described the lack of sportsmanship by Libya as despicable and unacceptable. The football governing body also announced an investigative committee to probe into the appalling incident. By then, the Super Eagles were too traumatised to play against the Knights. All they wanted was to escape from what became like a war zone.
Consequently, the NFF, after due consultation with the federal government, decided to withdraw the Super Eagles from the match. The next hurdle was how to get aviation fuel to fly back. It took the special grace of God for the Al-Abraq airport authorities to sell fuel to refill the chartered ValueJet aircraft that brought the delegation home.
The inhumane treatment suffered by the Super Eagles and their officials on October 13 is well documented. So, there is no need to dwell so much on it. However, what is really disturbing is the shocking utterances of a few Nigerians who shamelessly condemned the decision of the NFF to withdraw the team from the contest.
I have read and also listened to comments by those who are of the opinion that the Super Eagles should have stayed back to play the Knights, and I wonder if they are being reasonable enough. There are even ridiculous comments that suggested that the Super Eagles had only chickened out of the contest. I don’t think anything can be farther from the truth than this.
Despite the progress made by other African nations in football, the Super Eagles are not in the same class with some of these countries, including Libya. In fact, Nigeria is rated 36th in the world and 4th in Africa, while Libya is 122nd by FIFA. Super Eagles are three time champions of the AFCON, but Libya are yet to taste victory in the prestigious competition. So, why should the Super Eagles be afraid of Libya?
In any case, those who are against the decision to abandon the dangerous match are entitled to their opinions. However, if they have been following recent comments by the President of CAF, Patrice Motsepe, against the use of football dark arts by some of the African countries, such people should be ashamed of themselves by now.
Why would any man in his right senses feel that the NFF and the Super Eagles should be punished for doing everything humanly possible to escape from what they faced in Libya? I think those who feel offended that the team was withdrawn from the match are the people who are disappointed that the tragedy which loomed large over the Super Eagles didn’t happen. What else can one say?
Anyway, those who are still complaining bitterly about the decision by the NFF should sponsor themselves to Libya to represent Nigeria in the match that they feel is more important than life itself. After all, they are patriots who can lay down their lives for Nigeria.
In all honesty, instead of condemnation, the NFF should be commended for prioritising the lives of the Super Eagles over the three points at stake. After all, as the AFCON qualifiers Group D table stands presently, even if Nigeria donates the three points to the Knights, they won’t make it to Morocco in 2025. Mathematically, they are down and out. That match to me is not a must-win.
So, it would have been the most foolish decision in the 21st century, if the precious lives of some of the best football players in the world were risked because of inconsequential three points. I repeat, no football match is worth the life of anyone. I am confident that CAF will silence those who are unhappy with NFF’s decision to withdraw the Super Eagles from the match against Libya.
