NEWS ANALYSIS: Libya, Nigeria AFCON qualifier debacle: Implications of Super Eagles’ action
By Tosin Omojola
It is no longer news that the Group D AFCON qualifier between the Libyan national team and their Nigerian counterparts did not hold as scheduled on Tuesday.
The Nigerian team boycotted the match, having returned home from Libya after undergoing traumatic treatment from the Libyan authorities.
The Nigerian contingent consisting of players, coaches, football administrators and journalists decided to fly back home, after being abandoned for 12-hours at a decrepit Al-Abraq Airport in a small Libyan town, Labraq.
The Libyan national team, as seen in a video circulated by the North Africans, were out on Tuesday, warming up for the encounter to hold as scheduled, despite the Nigerian ordeal.
This, according to some football analysts, was a deliberate ploy by the Libyans to earn the three points at stake via a walkover, with their belief that Nigeria ran foul of the rules by refusing to show up for the match.
Unfortunately for them and luckily for Nigeria, CAF removed the fixture from Tuesday’s match schedule and went ahead to postpone the game, through an official statement.
IMPLICATIONS
Now, what are the implications of Nigeria’s withdrawal from the game?
- In 1996, Nigeria pulled out of the African Nations Cup, staged in South Africa, due to a diplomatic row with South Africa. This led to the country been banned from featuring in the edition of the continent’s soceer showpiece. Some concerned Nigerians have been expressing fears, that going by this development, Nigeria could be sanctioned again.
However, it is pertinent to state that, that may not be the case this time, as the current issue on ground is totally different from what transpired then.
The Nigerian government, then, under the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, deliberately withdrew from the AFCON, and therefore got sanctioned justifiably.
In this present case, Nigeria had no option than to take the step it took, with concrete facts and evidence available to defend their actions.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), through it’s Media Chief, Ademola Olajire, released a full account of what happened in Libya, which expressly revealed the trauma the contingent went through.
Going by this, it is most likely Nigeria will be vindicated when CAF finally gives its judgement.
The decision of CAF to remove the fixture from Tuesday’s schedule, pronouncing the postponement of the match officially, are pointers to the fact that the withdrawal of Nigeria, in the first place, was justified and not out of place.
Furthermore, the continent’s football governing body, has referred the matter to its relevant, competent arms to look into the matter and come up with the final judgement.
While awaiting the decision of CAF on the matter, Nigeria could escape the body’s sanction for refusing to honour the game, considering the fact that the Libyan authorities, failed in their responsibilities to provide the mandatory logistic support to the visiting team, as stipulated by the rules of the game.
In the game of football at any level, the safety and wellbeing of players and officials are paramount and firstly considered before every other thing. On this, Libya erred by failing to provide a conducive environment for their visitors, rather, the Nigerian players and officials were made to go through a traumatic experience.
There was no way the players would have played the game, taking such psychological and mental trauma into the pitch.
The fear in the players as a result of the airport abandonment, would have definitely taken its toll on the players and to face the Libyans, in the presence of their vociferous fans, knowing who they are, could be more fearful, hence, the best option to withdraw.
Since Libya failed to perform their role, as laid down by the rules of the game, and since their actions were detrimental to the psychological and mental state of their visitors, then CAF’s judgement might likely favour the West African country.
Based on the earlier decisions taken so far by CAF, the game may be rescheduled for a new date, most likely at a new neutral venue and further sanctions, like fines and banning Libya from hosting games on their soil could follow.
All eyes are therefore on CAF as football followers, who have been following the drama since it started, are eagerly awaiting the final decision of the body on the matter.
Fingers crossed!
