FIFA Council Executive Amaju Pinnick represented Nigeria at CAF’s hearing of the abandoned 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Libya. The former president of the Nigeria Football Federation accused the Libyans of unsportsmanship attitude towards the visiting Super Eagles.
After winning the first leg 1-0 in Uyo on October 11, the Nigerian national team departed for Libya for the reverse fixture.
Minutes before they landed in Benghazi, their flight was diverted to Al-Abraq, where they were left stranded at the airport for several hours.
With the situation unchanged the following day, the Nigerian contingent departed Libya after what was described as a hostage situation.
CAF has ordered an investigation into the chaotic situation and ordered both federations to submit documents detailing why the game was abandoned.
Pinnick spoke for Nigeria at the Libya – Nigeria case hearing in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, October 22, and blamed Libya over the situation....Read Full Article [Click Here>]
Sports Village Square reports that Augustin Senghor of Senegal, Seidou Mbombo Njoya of Cameroon, and Isha Johansen of Sierra Leone supported Pinnick’s position.
On the other hand, Libya was represented by Abdul Hakim Al-Shalmani, a CAF Executive member and former president of the Libya Football Federation, Soccernet reports.
Al-Shalmani explained that their actions were retaliatory as he accused Nigeria of not treating the Mediterranean Knights well during the first leg.
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The Libyan Federation also submitted its file explaining the reason for diverting the landing of the Nigerian national team plane at Labraq Airport.
