AFCON ‘25 And Libya’s Unhealthy Antics

AFCON ‘25 AND LIBYA’s UNHEALTHY ANTICS

The Nigerian senior football team, the Super Eagles, renowned champions in many respects in the African continent, obviously must have set out on the Libyan mission “to see and to conquer”.

In their stoutly determined mind, they must have been chorusing “Libya here we come”, buoyed by the anticipation of the plaudits and encomiums that would flow from their appreciative compatriots at the end of the day. 

Thinking and looking forward to the tournament ahead, they must have reminisced how resplendent they were in their attire and their sterling conduct in the last continental tournament, which made them the cynosure of all eyes in the successful historical outing at the 34th edition of Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in the soccer-loving nation of Cote D'lvoire.

It is with that heroic sense seeking to accomplish feats, being one of the dominant nations in sports in Africa, that the team set out to Libya to play the return leg of the qualifying matches, only to be hit by an acute anti-climax in the form of a torturous misery and the agony of the hostile reception in Libya.

Ostensibly, the motive of Libya was to impede another hopeful outing for the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the next AFCON Championship, expected to be held in Morocco in December 2025 and January 2026.

The Libyan show of hostility started with the diversion of the chartered aircraft conveying the Super Eagles from their expected destination of Benghazi to a derelict airport, without any tangible reason.

Rubbing the hostility in, the airport was bereft of protocols and had no hospitality and other necessary conveniences. This mischievous action was in defiance of international conventions of receiving visitors and, according to them, due courtesies.

It smacked of a preplanned hostility, intended to give Libya a flicker of opportunity to make progress in the competition. That uncouth antic has shown that many nations in Africa need to re-evaluate their professional and human relations attitudes and would have to do much more to grow the fraternity and bonding culture emanating from sports to the advantage of both African nations and the youths.

Hence, that despicable treatment has been roundly condemned by sports lovers, stakeholders, policy makers, marketers, youth development organizations and even religious bodies.

The Nigerian Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, quickly threw his weight in condemning the intentional humiliation of the Nigerian Super Eagles in Libya.

The Eagles were, no doubt, on a representational duty for the nation ahead of the African Cup of Nations Championship slated to be held sometime in December 2025 and January 2026.

Libya is certainly not one of the most attractive countries that Nigerians will want to settle in for a better tomorrow, particularly as the Super Eagles are renowned and ‘envied’ boys who are high contenders in the football world market.

For Libyans to imagine that the people and government of Nigeria will tolerate the height of embarrassment to their citizens, especially those that add colour to global unity and proffer solutions to high blood pleasure through their entertainment skills, is the biggest mistake they have dreamt of in their wide life.

It is a clear exhibition of hatred and racism and, above all, the biggest immature way of handling whatever irritations may have evoked their anger.

According to the Spokesperson of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Mr Ademola Olajire, the Super Eagles boarded a chartered ValueJet aircraft which took off from the Attah International Airport, Uyo, at 1155 hours on Sunday, 13th October 2024, through Aminu Kano International Airport to Benghazi, Libya.

A few minutes before their landing, the pilot was instructed by the control tower not to land but to proceed to Al-Abaq International Airport, knowing that the airport lacked the control navigation for landing at that odd hour.

Not only did the Super Eagles and all the passengers on board escape death and serious emergency deliverance which could have arisen, but they also risked not having the support of ambulances, medical aid, transport reliance, professionals at the airport, and an accessible network system for contacts and control of any eventuality at that point.

These, however, expose various fault levels on many fronts, notably the ignorance of the Libyan Football Association and lack of preparation to welcome their visitors, lack of adequate communication and expectation between the Nigerian Embassy in Libya and the Nigeria Football Federation.

Above all, the Libya charade exposes the inadequacy of arrangements between the Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials present in Libya to monitor the movements of relevant persons being expected for the match.

The insulting reception of Nigerian delegates and representatives of the Nigerian government at the airport speaks volumes to question the viability of the bilateral relationship of nations in terms of business and other engagements.

Nigeria is highly reputed worldwide for its generous hospitality to foreign counterparts.

Libyans visited Nigeria and had their preferred choice of movement from Port Harcourt to Uyo where they played their first leg match.

The NFF were readily available to still ensure their safety and accommodated them in one of the best hotels in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where the Super Eagles defeated them 1-0.

But should that victory, which is only for qualification, lead to a situation which could have resulted in loss of souls that have many mouths to feed?

Meanwhile, the quick response of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, urging the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to conduct a thorough investigation and recommend appropriate action against those who willingly violated the Organization’s Statutes and Regulations showed that the government is fully aware of the activities of the Ministry of Sports Development and Movements of her citizens especially when it is for the representation of the President himself.

The Minister Senator John Enoh may not be seen to be travelling all over the country to monitor the movements of his players and athletes, but he is in absolute control and contact with the sportspersons, all stakeholders, the formal media practitioners and has a holistic tab on the online operations which make him different from former sports chieftains.

Congratulations to Senator Owan Enoh for his quick communication with the Foreign Affairs Embassy, Presidency, and NFF staff on board to Libya, leading to the withdrawal of our team from danger.

The Super Eagles should also be commended for exhibiting maturity in their coordination, having travelled widely across the globe and allowing their experiences to comfort them. The Super Eagles have honourably returned to the country safe by the grace of the Almighty.

The Nigerian government should endeavour to encourage Press Attaches to teams that will leave the shores of the country for any international assignment, cognizant of the fact that they are men of the pen profession who are also the credible mouthpiece of the people and eyes in the “black domain”.

FELICIA MAMMAH NWOKORIE SPORTS DEVELOPMENT