Afrigather 
The Confederation of Africa Soccer, CAF, has urged Nigeria to proceed with their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier towards Libya in Benghazi, regardless of rising security issues following a string of occasions that left the Tremendous Eagles stranded, Soccernet.ng studies.
The Nigerian nationwide soccer staff was en path to Libya for Tuesday’s essential fixture, however their flight was diverted mid-air to Al Abraq, a small airport primarily used for hajj operations.
The diversion left the Tremendous Eagles stranded with out quick help from Libyan authorities.
To make issues worse, the Libyan Soccer Federation failed to offer transport to Benghazi, exacerbating the scenario.
With minimal help offered, the Nigerian staff solely obtained web entry and important provides by early Monday morning.
In response to what they described as ‘threats to life and hostilities’, the Tremendous Eagles gamers, led by captain William Troost-Ekong, determined to withdraw from the match.
“The gamers made this decision due to the menace to their lives and hostilities of the host nation since they landed,” Troost-Ekong mentioned.
Nigeria’s Sports activities Minister John Owan Enoh has on Monday confirmed that CAF President Patrice Motsepe and Secretary Basic Veron Mosengo-Omba had urged Nigeria to proceed with the match.
Nevertheless, Enoh rejected the request.
“This morning I used to be on a convention name with CAF President and CAF Secretary Basic,” Senator Enoh mentioned.
“Whereas the CAF President’s concern appears to be what to do to get the nationwide staff to take part in tomorrow’s match, I’ve as an alternative knowledgeable CAF that the priority of the Authorities and other people of Nigeria is first, the protection of the staff and their protected return, urging that CAF ought to concentrate on working with us to realize this.
“There have to be a critical adversarial conseqùence to the Libyan soccer federation for this unspeakable behaviour. This can’t be by insisting that Nigeria nonetheless takes half on this match given the very apparent scenario.”
I strongly condemn the obnoxious therapy meted on gamers and officers of the Senior Nationwide Workforce,the Tremendous Eagles who arrived Libya, yesterday the thirteenth of October for the reverse model of the match performed on Friday in Uyo, the AFCON 2025 Group D qualifiers.
The Nationwide… pic.twitter.com/jtF4hNgpo4
— Senator John Owan Enoh (@OwanEnoh) October 14, 2024
Nigeria presently high Group D with seven factors after three video games, whereas Libya are in all-time low with one level.
