By Kayode John
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) says it has asked its Disciplinary Board to investigate the ordeal of Super Eagles in Libya and promised to take action against any violation of its statutes and regulations.
Super Eagles players and officials were locked up at the Al Abaq airport for more than 15 hours after arriving in Libya on a private plane on Sunday for the return leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
However, their flight was redirected from landing in Benghazi, the venue of the game, to Al Abaq airport, which is more three hours drive from the original destination.
The players posted the despicable conditions they were subjected to on social media, lamenting that they had no access to food, water, accommodation and the internet.
Eventially, the players decided to end the siege by returning home and not honour the game slated to hold on Tuesday.
In a post titled ‘CAF views the disturbing and unacceptable experiences of the Nigerian National Football Team (‘’Super Eagles’’) at an airport in Libya in a very serious light’, the continental body wrote:
“The Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) has been in contact with the Libyan and Nigerian authorities after it had been informed that the Nigerian National Football Team (‘’Super Eagles’’) and their technical team were stranded in disturbing conditions for several hours at an airport that they were allegedly instructed to land by the Libyan authorities.
“The matter has been referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board for investigation and appropriate action will be taken against those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations.”
Earlier in the day, the Minister of Sports Development John Enoh revealed that he spoke with CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe and Secretary-General Veron Mosengo-Omba, on the important of the players returning home safely rather than being persuaded to play the game, as the football body was aiming to achieve.
“This morning i was on a conference call with CAF President and CAF Secretary General.While the CAF President’s concern seems to be what to do to get the national team participate in tomorrow’s match, i have instead informed CAF that the concern of the Government and people of Nigeria is first, the safety of the team and their safe return, urging that CAF should focus on working with us to achieve this.
“There must be a serious adverse conseqùence to the Libyan football federation for this unspeakable behaviour.
This can not be through insisting that Nigeria still takes part in this match given the very obvious situation,” he partly wrote in a statement on X.
The players and officials are on their way back to Nigeria on board the Value Jet plane which flew them to Libya on Sunday.
The plane refueled after initial hitches reportedly created by officials at the Al Abaq airport.
