Tensions have risen in Libyan media following a recent decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Board against the Libya Football Federation (LFF), with several outlets urging punitive actions against Nigerian workers in Libya.
The CAF Disciplinary Board imposed a $50,000 fine on the LFF and awarded a 3-0 forfeit victory to Nigeria. This ruling followed an incident in which Nigeria’s Super Eagles were held for an extended period at Al Abraq Airport, causing delays to their AFCON 2025 qualifying match.
Citing the LFF’s failure to meet security and logistical obligations, CAF granted Nigeria three points in their qualification campaign.
In response, Libyan media outlets have voiced frustration, urging the government to act against undocumented Nigerian workers.
The Libyan blog Libya News Today 1on Sunday published a post calling for the arrest of Nigerian workers without valid documentation, proposing a $500 fine and the imposition of additional taxes on those lacking residence permits.
Similarly, Libya INF.TV, another Libyan media platform, supported these views, advocating for the detention of undocumented Nigerian workers and suggesting that fines should be deducted directly from their earnings.
Amid the growing tension, Nigerian worker who goes by the name Omo Oba Legba described an escalation of the situation.
In a Facebook video on Wednesday, he stated, “My Arab master, who is a policeman, just called me now and told me not to go out to buy anything because they have started arresting Nigerians in Libya. I asked him, ‘What about those with Libyan passports?’ But he said they aren’t considering passports and that anyone who is Nigerian will be arrested. That’s why I decided to alert our people so they know how far this issue has gone.”
The crackdown continued to draw reactions, with Libya INF.TV sharing a video on Thursday in which a Nigerian man pleaded with Libyan authorities, “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.”
