Nigeria is boycotting their African Cup of Nations qualifying soccer game in Libya following a 15-hour stay at an airport in Bayda. Nigeria had a game against Libya in Benghazi, which is roughly four hours from Bayda. According to the Super Eagles delegate, their hosts purposefully diverted a plane to sabotage the travel plan. Libya similarly had accusations about Nigeria’s treatment when the two sides met in Uyo last Friday.
Nigeria accuses Libya of travel sabotage ahead of fixture
Libya’s captain, Faisal Al-Badri, mistreatment. Libya had to travel with three non-air-conditioned buses to reach their destination. A late strike helped Nigeria seal three points to stay top of their qualifying group.
The two teams were going to lock horns on Tuesday in Libya for the fourth round of group matches. That will not happen, as Nigeria departed Libya following an extended stay in the airport in Bayda. The Libyan Football Federation declined any wrongdoings as they associated the event with common air traffic control protocols.
Meanwhile, Nigerians recalled an incident from 2021 where club side Enyimba FC had to forfeit a Confederations Cup return leg against Libya’s Al-Ittihad. After the change of venue without communication, the Nigerian club delegate spent over 24 hours at the airport.
African soccer faces inherent challenges
With their diverse cultures and genetics, games in the African region are subjected to controversies of different kinds. It’s common to see visiting teams complain about sabotage of travel plans. There are also frequent changes to the allocation of host stadiums. Last week, for example, Cameroon changed the venue for a crucial fixture against Kenya eight days before the meeting.
Along with Asia, Africa spans the largest territory and population in the world. This usually results in varying cultural differences. The economic level of the continent and the dispersed geographical nature also make it difficult for…
Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/africa-faces-fresh-controversy-amidst-wide-ranging-soccer-issues/
Author : Eskender Tamrat
Publish date : 2024-10-14 18:12:13
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