ABIA FANS REACT AS SUPER EAGLES BOYCOTT AFCON TIE AGAINST LIBYA

REPORTER: JOHN MADUAGWU

The decision of the players of the Nigeria’s Super Eagles to boycott their AFCON qualifying match with Libya over frustrations faced in the North African country is generating mixed reactions among soccer enthusiasts in Abia State.

This follows the series of reports on social media by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials and some of the players, including team captain, Williams Trust-Ekong, detailing their ordeal even while they were still airborne and subsequent abandonment at an airport in Libya.

In an interview with Radio Nigeria, a soccer fan, Mr. Prince Elemba, while calling for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to take action against Libya, noted that the team should have still played the game to show the Libyans that they could rise against any situation.

A sports journalist, Mr. Wisdom Thomas, supported the decision to boycott the game, as the mental state of the players and officials had already been affected, while they were not sure of other plots the Libyans were waiting to unleash on them if they decided to play.

He said this was not the first time the Libyans were doing this to a Nigerian team and called on FIFA to met out an appropriate punishment to discourage others from adopting that attitude.

For his part, Mr. Chimere Alfred, said the situation was unfortunate as the game, if missed, would not be rescheduled due to the tight scheduling of matches and the players engagements in their different clubs.

He stressed the need for the CAF to investigate the claims and counter claims of the two teams involved, met out appropriate punishment and take measures to prevent other teams and federations from going against laid down procedures.

The Super Eagles and Mediterranean Knights of Libya are scheduled to play a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations second leg qualifying match on Tuesday, October 15, at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina close to Benghazi after the first leg in ended in favour of Nigeria last Friday Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU