After the verdict issued by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in response to a complaint from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) regarding the treatment of the Super Eagles in Libya, members of the Nigerian community have reported widespread arrests and fines in the country.
The Nigerian football team was detained for over 20 hours at Al-Abraq Airport in eastern Libya upon their arrival for the second leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya’s national team. They had originally been scheduled to land at Benghazi Airport and then travel nearly four hours by road to Benina, where the match was supposed to take place. However, less than an hour before landing, the Tunisian pilot received a directive from Libyan authorities to divert the flight to Al-Abraq Airport, which is 150 miles from the intended destination.
This situation led to widespread outrage, prompting the NFF to withdraw the Super Eagles from the qualifying match and file an official complaint with CAF.
On Saturday, October 26, CAF’s disciplinary committee awarded the Super Eagles three points and three goals for the abandoned match, as stated in a ruling signed by Chairman Ousmane Kane. The committee determined that the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) violated Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, along with Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code. As a result, the panel mandated that the LFF pay a fine of $50,000 within 60 days of notification.
Displeased with this ruling, LFF President Nasser Al-Suwai’i described it as “unjust and malicious,” claiming that the NFF’s influence within CAF significantly affected the outcome. According to the Libyan outlet Libyan Observer, Al-Suwai’i stated that the LFF would file an official appeal shortly. He also mentioned that if the appeal were denied, the federation would escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to ensure their legitimate rights are upheld.
In the wake of the CAF ruling, the Libyan news blog Libya News Today 1 called on the government to arrest Nigerian workers in Libya who lack legal documentation, imposing a fine of $500 plus taxes. The blog stated, “We, Nigerians in Libya, face injustice. There is no border with Nigeria, and they are a burden on the Libyan people.”
The post included a Libyan TV presenter declaring that those working without paying taxes are earning sinful money and that the government should take action to enforce fines and obtain residence permits. Another site, Libya INF.TV, echoed calls for the arrest of undocumented Nigerian workers, emphasizing that those without papers would face the $500 fine and deportation, with the Libyan government expected to cover costs using citizens’ funds.
A Nigerian in Tripoli, Adenaike Emmanuel, reported that arrests began on Sunday following the CAF’s announcement. “People are reacting strongly to the news. They claim they won’t pay the fine,” he said. “Someone told me that arrests started in his area, and it’s happening here in Tripoli as well. Libyans are openly expressing their anger and seeking revenge.”
Peter Omoregbie, President of the Nigerian community in Libya, confirmed this situation in a video shared by Nigerian blogs. He reported that innocent people are being arrested without consideration of their passports or residence permits. “The arrests began in Tedora on Sunday night,” he stated. “This level of disregard does not occur in other countries.”
He explained that the arrests stemmed from CAF imposing a $50,000 fine on Libya for its treatment of the Nigerian football team. Some Libyan journalists have suggested that Nigeria will face repercussions through the arrest of its citizens in Libya, which he noted is not typical in other nations. “As the community leader, I learned that arrests began last night in the Tedora area, with the Libyan police targeting Nigerians, regardless of their passport status. Many in our community are anxious and seeking guidance. We often feel powerless, and even the Nigerian Embassy has limited options. It’s essential for international organizations to intervene.”
Two days later, Omo Oba Legba reported that the arrests had intensified. In a Facebook video, he shared that a police officer warned him not to go out, as Nigerians were being arrested. When he asked about those holding Libyan passports, the officer stated they were not exempt. He wanted to inform others about the seriousness of the situation. “The Super Eagles got what they needed and returned home, receiving payment regardless of their performance. However, this has created problems for many Nigerians in Libya facing daily hardships. An Arab friend mentioned that arrests of Nigerians will continue until the CAF fine is overturned. We appeal to the Nigerian government for help.”
In a similar video posted by Libya INF.TV, a Nigerian begged the Libyan police to stop the arrests. He said, “Football has nothing to do with us. If you want to catch them, catch them when they come here. Leave us out of this. And to the Nigerian team, I don’t know what you’re thinking, coming here to play football with the Libyan people. You don’t have sense. Please, Libyan police, please.”
Ahmed Hamza, Chairman of the National Institution for Human Rights in Libya, has warned against retaliatory actions targeting Nigerian workers following the CAF ruling. He noted that some media outlets are inciting hostility towards foreigners by labeling them as illegal residents.
Hamza urged caution, stating, “Any form of retaliation against foreign and migrant workers, especially Nigerians, by security forces, armed groups, or citizens could lead to serious consequences in domestic and international justice.”
When Sunday PUNCH contacted the Libyan Embassy in Abuja, a woman named Rose said she was not authorized to comment and requested inquiries be sent in writing to the ambassador. Despite submitting a letter, there was no response after 48 hours.
A request for information from the Nigerian Embassy in Tripoli also went unanswered. Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mentioned he had sent a message to the
Ogbole Amedu-Ode, a former Nigerian ambassador to Mexico, urged the government to investigate the retaliatory arrests and report Libya to the African Union. He advised Nigerians in Libya to maintain a low profile and consider leaving if the situation worsens.
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