The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed allegations of inadequate hospitality made by the captain of Libya’s senior men’s national football team, Faisal Al-Badri, following their arrival in Nigeria. The NFF insists that the disorganization experienced by the Libyan delegation was self-inflicted, with the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) responsible for the confusion.
Emmanuel Ayanbunmi, NFF’s Assistant Director of Protocol, clarified that the LFF's communication lapse was the root cause of the logistical issues. According to him, the LFF informed the NFF only three hours before the team's arrival on Tuesday that they would be landing in Port Harcourt instead of Uyo, contrary to earlier arrangements.
“I had a lengthy discussion with the General Secretary of the LFF on Monday, October 7th, and at no point did he indicate that the team would be arriving the next day. He simply stated that he would follow up with more details but never did. It wasn’t until the evening, when a representative of the LFF contacted me, that we learned they would arrive by noon the next day. We promptly organized arrangements to welcome the team in Uyo,” Mr. Ayanbunmi explained.
He further noted that it was only an hour before the team’s plane touched down that the NFF was informed about the change in arrival location. The last-minute notification forced the NFF to scramble for federal approval to allow the chartered plane to proceed from Port Harcourt to Uyo. However, the Libyan team opted to travel by road to Uyo instead, citing concerns over additional costs.
The allegations of poor treatment come at a time when diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Libya have been strained, following the Super Eagles' recent ordeal at a Libyan airport. The Nigerian national team was reportedly held hostage for hours upon arrival in Libya, sparking diplomatic tensions and accusations from both sides. The incident has fueled a series of disputes, with the current claims from the Libyan football captain seen by some as an attempt to deflect from the prior mistreatment of the Super Eagles.
Addressing complaints about the quality of transportation provided for the Libyan team, Mr. Ayanbunmi noted that the Libyan delegation disregarded the buses arranged by the NFF and chose to hire their own. "If they traveled in non-air-conditioned buses, it was their own decision. We ensured their safety by providing security escorts, with personnel stationed in front and behind the buses. Therefore, we remain unfazed by their grievances and threats," he stated.
The NFF maintains that it fulfilled all necessary obligations and attributes the chaos solely to the missteps of the Libyan Football Federation. The ongoing diplomatic row has added an extra layer of tension to the situation, with sports officials on both sides attempting to resolve the lingering animosity.
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