Airport saga: Libya FA breaks silence
The Libyan Football Federation (LFF), has broken it’s silence on the incident that led to the boycotting of the Group D AFCON Qualifier by Nigeria.
Nigeria’s contingent to Libya were subjected to untold trauma for 12-hours, after the players, officials, administrators and journalists were abandoned at the Al-Abraq Airport, Labraq, before they eventually returned home.
The Confederation of African Football CAF has since waded in, postponing the fixture and refereeing the matter to it’s competent bodies.
Breaking it’s silence on the matter, the Libyan Football governing body, on its tweeter handle, denied deliberately subjecting the Nigerian contingent to such a horrible experience, expressing regrets over any inconveniences caused by the incident.
The LFF defended itself through a nine points statement, claimed that their contingent also had some difficulties on arrival in Nigeria for the first leg, but decided not to make it public.
It further stated that Libya prides themselves on hospitality and their welcoming nature, stressing that they have always prioritised treating all visiting teams, including African brothers and other international delegations, with the respect and dignity they deserve.
“These are standard procedures at airports worldwide, and delays or rerouting, though unfortunate, are not uncommon.We have the utmost respect for our Nigerian counterparts and want to reassure them that the diversion of their flight was not intentional.
“There are no grounds to accuse the Libyan security teams or the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately orchestrating this incident. Such actions are inconsistent with our values and principles.
“We firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation.
“Hosting these events is a great honor for us, and we strive to ensure that all teams feel safe and respected as our guests. This commitment to equality and hospitality is a core aspect of our culture and tradition”, stated the LFF in its statement.
