In the wake of a recent verdict issued by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which granted the Nigerian Super Eagles a win in their scheduled Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya, reports have surfaced of widespread arrests and fines targeting Nigerians in Libya.
The Nigerian community in the country is facing increased scrutiny and enforcement actions following a high-profile complaint lodged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over alleged mistreatment of the Super Eagles by Libyan authorities.
The situation began when the Nigerian football team, en route to their October match, was detained at Al-Abraq Airport in eastern Libya for over 20 hours. The team had originally planned to land at Benghazi Airport and then travel roughly four hours by road to Benina, where they were to play the second leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya’s national team.
However, less than an hour before touchdown, the Tunisian pilot reportedly received last-minute instructions from Libyan authorities to redirect the flight to Al-Abraq Airport, which is situated about 150 miles from their intended destination.
This unexpected diversion and prolonged detainment sparked outrage among fans and officials alike. Unable to proceed with the match under such conditions, the NFF made the decision to withdraw the Super Eagles from the qualifier and subsequently filed an official complaint with CAF. The complaint highlighted the treatment of the Nigerian team, which many viewed as inhumane and obstructive.
On October 26, CAF’s disciplinary committee responded to the NFF’s grievance by ruling in favor of Nigeria. In a statement signed by Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ousmane Kane, CAF awarded the Super Eagles three points and three goals for the abandoned match, effectively handing them a victory.
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The committee found that the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) had violated Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code. In addition to awarding the match to Nigeria, CAF ordered the LFF to pay a fine of $50,000, payable within 60 days.
The ruling was met with immediate backlash from the LFF. Nasser Al-Suwai’I, President of the Libyan Football Federation, condemned the decision as “unjust and malicious,” suggesting that the NFF’s influence within CAF may have skewed the outcome.
Al-Suwai’I stated that the LFF plans to challenge the decision by filing an official appeal. Should the appeal be rejected, he indicated that the LFF is prepared to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to protect what he described as “their legitimate rights.”
Reports of mass arrests and fines targeting Nigerians in Libya quickly followed the CAF ruling, as the Nigerian community in Libya reported experiencing heightened enforcement actions. The Libyan news outlet Libyan Observer recently reported on Al-Suwai’I’s discontent, underscoring the tense diplomatic ripple effects of the CAF ruling.
As the controversy unfolds, the situation has spotlighted the strained dynamics between Nigeria and Libya, extending beyond football into issues impacting both diplomatic relations and the safety of nationals abroad.
The NFF’s successful appeal to CAF has garnered praise domestically for defending Nigeria’s national team, but it has also brought about new challenges for Nigerians residing in Libya, who are now facing the direct consequences of escalating tensions.
This incident reflects a broader tension surrounding international sporting events, where teams’ treatment often mirrors the political undercurrents between nations.
As the appeal process progresses, the NFF has reiterated its commitment to supporting the Super Eagles and ensuring fair treatment in future international fixtures, while Libya’s football federation presses on in its campaign to overturn CAF’s ruling. For the Nigerian community in Libya, however, the immediate concern remains navigating the new wave of enforcement actions in the aftermath of the contentious verdict.
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Following a recent ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in favor of Nigeria, tension is escalating in Libya, where popular Libyan media outlets have called for fines and arrests targeting Nigerian workers.
On Sunday, Libya News Today 1, a blog with over 188,000 Facebook followers, posted that all Libyan TV channels were urging the government to impose a $500 fine on Nigerians working in Libya without legal permits, claiming this would help pay the fine levied on Libya by CAF.
The post featured a video of a Libyan TV presenter arguing that Nigerians working in Libya without paying taxes were earning “sinful money” and should be regulated or deported.
Another platform, Libya INF.TV, echoed these sentiments, asserting that Nigerian workers without legal documentation should face either fines or deportation. The posts have sparked widespread concern among Nigerians living in Libya amid heightened enforcement measures.
Following a recent CAF ruling that fined Libya $50,000 over the treatment of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, reports have emerged of mass arrests of Nigerians in Libya. Adenaike Emmanuel, a Nigerian living in Tripoli, confirmed that arrests began shortly after the verdict, with Libyan authorities detaining Nigerians regardless of their documentation status.
Peter Omoregbie, President of the Nigerian community in Libya, shared in a video that the detentions started in areas like Tedora, adding that local media is urging these actions as “revenge” for the CAF fine. He expressed concerns over the safety of Nigerians in Libya, calling for international intervention.
Ahmed Hamza, Chairman of Libya’s National Institution for Human Rights, warned against retaliatory measures and urged authorities to avoid targeting foreign workers, warning of potential legal consequences domestically and internationally.