Julius OkorieAhead of 2025 second leg AFCON qualifier billed for Tuesday October 15 in Benina, Libyan Authorities have unleashed series of frustrating actions against Super Eagles of Nigeria.
The Eagles who jetted out for Libya on Sunday after a hard fought lone goal victory over the Knights of Libya on Friday in Uyo, were left stranded on arrival in Libya for over three hours.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Nigerian contingents that ought to have landed in Benghazi on a chartered flight were diverted to Abraq Airport, where they were left unattended to for hours.
The original agreement with the Libyan Authorities before the Eagles left the shores of Nigeria Primebusiness.africa gathered was for the chartered flight to land in Benghazi which is a few minutes’ drive to Benina venue of the Tuesday’s encounter.
Unfortunately the moment the plane was Airborne the course was diverted apparently with intent to frustrate the Eagles who currently top Group D with Seven points and headed into Libya for the second leg with a lone goal advantage.
The frustration of the Libyan authorities is not unconnected with high possibility of failing to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
Libya currently occupy bottom of the group with just one point and indication that the crashed is as good as missing the forth coming Nations Cup.
Meanwhile, President of Libya FA, Abdul Hakim Al-Shalmani, has resigned his appointment less than 24 hours to the Match against Eagles in Benina.
The resignation is not unconnected with increasing calls for him to step down following the continuous poor run of the Mediterranean Knights aside from other issues concerning the running of football in the country under his administration.
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Al-Shalmani submitted his resignation during the General Assembly meeting of the football federation in response to repeated demands for his resignation.
73 clubs from different regions of the country had decided to boycott the General Assembly meeting until the President of the Libyan Football Federation and the rest of the federation members submitted their resignations. Two issues we gather are weighing heavily on the reason for the FA boss resignation, the increase in the number of premier league clubs to 36 and the poor run of the national team in the ongoing qualifiers
The deliberate attempt to dampen the spirit of Super Eagles that has been witnessed so far, is an indication that the Tuesday’s match may be full of hostilities.
A draw in Benina is good enough for the Eagles but it leaves to be seen whether the hostile Libyan authorities and the rising anger among fans will provide a conducive atmosphere for the Austin Eguavoen tutored side to simply play the game and leave.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
