By Kayode John
Former Super Eagles forward Osaze Odemwingie has said both Nigeria and Libya deserve punishment for their role in the boycotted 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier slated for Benghazi last Tuesday.
The Super Eagles won the first leg 1-0 in Uyo but pulled out of the return leg in Libya, following their harrowing experience in the North African country, when they were held up at an airport for about 18 hours without food or water.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed that its disciplinary committee is investigating the matter.
However, speaking on Thursday with fellow former Super Eagles star Ifeanyi Udeze on Brila FM’s ‘No Holds Barred’, on what CAF would likely decide to do in this scenario, Odemwingie criticised Libya for their dangerous revenge-seeking measures.
“I think I’m more inclined to a neutral ground for this game, although it would be a sort of disadvantage to the Libyan team,” the former West Brom striker said.
“And in any way like this, I don’t see why the players, footballers themselves, will be punished because it is a dream of every Libyan player to play in front of his parents and people, so players shouldn’t be punished for this. But for it not to happen again, something has to be done but obviously the first thing is investigation.
“Nigeria should be fined as well because you know we also are capable of misbehaving; our immigration, our airports, they were so upset but they took it to a new level.
“But after the investigation when the two teams would have presented their evidence, we can decide on what to do but taking points off like that in an international game is not the best. I don’t think it is a good decision and the match should have been played but may be in a neutral ground because of time.”
Odemwingie added: “I’m sure on the Libya side there are people who do not back any such plan to upset the preparation of our national team for the qualifiers.
“But it is scary in another way because this is another level if they were not happy. Diverting a plane to another airport is another level, it is actually scary.
“Who can be behind it, I don’t know but it went a little bit too far. If they had complained about how they were treated.
“I think they went a step too far; they could have written a complaint and I’m sure Nigeria we are a country that can get things right. We can offer them apology or explain things. But you just jumped into extremes, that was extreme.
“Like they say, there is no smoke without fire. What we saw here made it to the international press. It was extreme, next level, to the level of diverting a plane to another city and holding people for a long time. I can’t judge the situation right away but I’m sure the Libyan players were not happy because it became to toxic.
“They went too far, some people might not even want to play football again for their countries because it is very disappointing. But this is the world we live in. We wouldn’t want to have Libya in our group anymore or have any dealings with them, which is sad.
“I hope they find a way to solve this, get the match on the way, there will be a bit of more tension during the game now.”
Odemwingie won 65 caps for Nigeria and scored 11 goals.
He was in the team that won silver in football at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in China, and also represented Nigeria at the 2008 and 2010 AFCON tournaments and featured at the 2010 FIFA World Cups as well.
