In a disturbing turn of events, the n expatriate community in Libya has reported widespread arrests and significant fines as reactions unfold following the recent ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
This situation emerged after the Nigeria Football Federation lodged a formal complaint regarding the treatment of the Super Eagles during their trip to Libya for a crucial qualifier in the lead-up to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
According to reports from Osun Defender, the Nigerian team faced an ordeal upon landing at Al-Abraq Airport in eastern Libya, where they were detained for over 20 hours instead of proceeding to Benghazi to play against the Libyan national team.
Initially destined for Benghazi Airport, the Super Eagles’ flight was diverted at the last minute due to an instruction from Libyan authorities, leading to a significant disruption in their travel plans.
The situation incited considerable outrage, prompting the NFF to withdraw the Super Eagles from the qualifying match, as well as to file an official complaint with CAF.
CAF’s disciplinary committee, led by Chairman Ousmane Kane, ruled in favour of Nigeria, awarding the Super Eagles three points and three goals due to the abandonment of the match. The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) was found in violation of several regulatory articles and ordered to pay a fine of $50,000 within two months.
However, LFF President Nasser Al-Suwai’I criticized the decision, labelling it as “unjust and malicious,” and indicated that their appeal against the ruling would be immediate. He emphasized that if the appeal fails, they would escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking to protect their interests.
In a harsh aftermath of the ruling, news outlet, Libya News Today 1, echoing growing sentiments in local media, stated calls were being made on the government to apprehend Nigerian workers lacking legal documents. They reported, “The fines attributed to Libya will be collected from Nigerians in the country. They are seen as a burden to us and should return to their homeland.”
Spurred on by this narrative, Libyan TV channels and social media have been rampant with suggestions that Nigerians residing in Libya should face arrest and pay a hefty fine of $500 plus taxes.
Adenaike Emmanuel, a Nigerian citizen residing in Tripoli, confirmed that the arrests commenced shortly after the CAF announcement, describing a climate of fear and panic among the community as sporadic arrests were reported across various neighborhoods.
Peter Omoregbie, the Nigerian community leader in Libya, corroborated Emmanuel’s account, expressing alarm at the indiscriminate nature of the arrests. He noted that even individuals with valid travel documents were not exempt from being detained.
Despite the clear emotional fallout from CAF’s ruling, Omoregbie raised concerns over the unjustly punitive measures against Nigerians, highlighting the need for international intervention in this escalating situation.
Further illustrating the crisis, another Nigerian, Omo Oba Legba, expressed frustration with the arbitrary nature of the arrests, noting that repercussions seem to disproportionately affect innocent civilians, while the involvement of the Nigerian football community remains minimal amidst this larger crisis.
Libyan officials have warned against unjust retaliations toward Nigerian workers, with Ahmed Hamza, Chairman of the National Institution for Human Rights in Libya, calling for adherence to international laws to avoid exacerbating tensions.
Despite attempts to gain clarity from both the Libyan and Nigerian embassies on the matter, responses have been uncooperative, leaving many on edge about their safety and legal standing in Libya.
As discussions continue over follow-ups to CAF’s decision, experts advocate the Nigerian government takes immediate steps to ensure their citizens are protected and supported in the north African nation. Many urge Nigerians abroad to exercise restraint and remain cautious as tensions rise significantly in the wake of this sporting debacle.
