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Tensions have risen sharply between Nigeria and Libya after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruled in favour of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the recent treatment of Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Libya.
Following this decision, reports have surfaced of mass arrests of Nigerian nationals in Libya, with many detained and fined under allegations of immigration violations.
AFRIPOST reports that the controversy began when the Nigerian football team was held at Al-Abraq Airport in eastern Libya for over 20 hours, delaying their arrival for the second leg of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya.
Originally set to land at Benghazi Airport and travel by road to Benina for the match, the team’s Tunisian pilot was redirected to Al-Abraq by Libyan authorities, only an hour from their landing time.
This diversion caused significant delays, ultimately prompting the NFF to pull the team from the match and lodge a formal complaint with the CAF.
On October 26, CAF’s disciplinary committee, led by Chairman Ousmane Kane, responded by awarding Nigeria three points and three goals for the forfeited match.
The committee cited violations of AFCON’s regulations and CAF’s Disciplinary Code by Libya’s football governing body, the Libyan Football Federation (LFF), and imposed a $50,000 fine on the LFF, payable within 60 days.
LFF President Nasser Al-Suwai’I strongly criticized the CAF’s decision, labelling it “unjust” and accusing the NFF of undue influence over the outcome.
Al-Suwai’I vowed to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if necessary to overturn the ruling.
Since the CAF verdict, anti-Nigerian sentiment has reportedly escalated in Libya, with calls on social media and local media platforms urging authorities to impose fines and arrest Nigerian workers lacking official documentation.
Libya News Today 1, a popular Libyan blog, asserted that Nigerian migrants should pay $500 in taxes or face deportation, adding that Libya’s fine to CAF should be covered by these taxes. This message, amplified by Libyan TV presenters, led to intensified immigration crackdowns targeting Nigerians.
According to Sunday Punch, a Nigerian resident in Tripoli, Adenaike Emmanuel, described a surge in detentions following the CAF announcement, with people apprehended regardless of their immigration status. “They’ve started rounding people up, and it’s spreading quickly.”
He stated that many Libyans view this crackdown as retribution, despite Nigeria’s lack of connection to the CAF-imposed fine.
Peter Omoregbie, leader of the Nigerian community in Libya, corroborated the reports in a video, saying authorities began detaining Nigerians en masse, even those with proper documentation.
“Libyans seem to believe these fines can be recouped from Nigerians working here. This is unprecedented and worrying for our community,” he said.
Additional accounts from Nigerians have circulated online. In a video posted on Wednesday, Omo Oba Legba warned fellow Nigerians to remain indoors amid the arrests, stating, “My Libyan employer advised me not to go out as they’re now arresting Nigerians, passport or no passport.”
Human rights advocate Ahmed Hamza, Chairman of Libya’s National Institution for Human Rights, cautioned against targeting Nigerians and foreigners in retaliation for the CAF ruling.
He urged authorities to avoid escalating tensions through collective punishment, warning of potential domestic and international legal consequences.
Sunday Punch further revealed that efforts to obtain official responses from Libyan and Nigerian embassies yielded no comment, while the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated it was awaiting updates on the situation. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission also had yet to respond as of press time.