Following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) recent decision to award Nigeria’s Super Eagles three points and three goals due to the poor treatment the team endured while in Libya, reports have emerged that Nigerians living in the North African country are now facing widespread arrests and fines. The ruling, which was intended to address the mistreatment experienced by the Super Eagles, appears to have unintentionally escalated tensions in Libya, leading to a backlash against Nigerians in the country.
Adenaike Emmanuel, a Nigerian resident in Tripoli, confirmed to Sunday Punch that the arrests began on Sunday, shortly after the CAF ruling was publicized in Libya. According to Emmanuel, the situation has since become increasingly tense, with Nigerians reportedly being targeted in what many believe is a form of retaliation for CAF’s decision. This development has sparked concerns about the safety and well-being of Nigerians living in Libya as the situation continues to escalate.
The incident traces back to October 26, when CAF’s Disciplinary Committee ruled in favor of the Super Eagles following an incident in which the team was detained for over 20 hours at Al-Abraq Airport in eastern Libya. The Nigerian team was en route to play the second leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya but was prevented from reaching the match location on time due to the prolonged detention.
Originally scheduled to land at Benghazi Airport, the Nigerian team was forced to divert to Al-Abraq Airport, causing significant delays that ultimately impacted their ability to arrive at Benina, the designated match location. This disruption led to Nigeria’s official complaint to CAF, prompting an investigation into the Libyan Football Federation's (LFF) handling of the situation.
Following the investigation, CAF found the LFF in violation of Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code. Consequently, CAF awarded Nigeria three points and three goals while also imposing a $50,000 fine on the LFF, which must be paid within 60 days. The decision has since sparked controversy among Libyan football authorities, with LFF President Nasser Al-Suwai’I condemning the ruling as “unjust and malicious.” Al-Suwai’I has announced that the LFF plans to file an appeal and may escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if necessary.
Meanwhile, members of the Nigerian community in Libya report that they are now facing the fallout of CAF’s ruling, with many expressing fear for their safety amid the current crackdown. Emmanuel shared that the news of the CAF ruling was received poorly by some in Libya, leading to targeted actions against Nigerians. He recounted conversations with fellow Nigerians, some of whom reported that arrests had begun in their neighborhoods, with people being detained regardless of their legal status or documentation.
The President of the Nigerian community in Libya, Peter Omoregbie, confirmed these developments in a video shared widely by Libya-based Nigerian blogs throughout the week. In the video, Omoregbie stated that the arrests started on Sunday night in certain areas, particularly in Tedora. He described the situation as unprecedented, noting that people are being arrested regardless of whether they possess passports or residence permits, a situation he said would be unlikely in most other countries.
When asked for background on the incident, Omoregbie explained that, according to CAF regulations, the football body operates independently, and governments are generally discouraged from interfering in football-related matters. He detailed that Nigeria’s national team was initially scheduled to arrive in Benghazi for a match against Libya on October 15 but was instead diverted to another state, resulting in the cancellation of the match. He emphasized that CAF’s investigation and ruling on the matter should have been the end of it, without leading to repercussions for Nigerian civilians in Libya.
Omoregbie went on to share that since CAF issued its verdict, which required Libya to pay a fine of $50,000, many Libyan journalists and bloggers on social media have been discussing Nigeria’s perceived responsibility for the fine. He added that in other countries, this kind of response would be unusual and that the Nigerian community in Libya now feels caught in the crossfire of a broader political and social issue.
Two days after Omoregbie’s initial report, another Nigerian in Libya, Omo Oba Legba, shared updates indicating that the arrests had intensified. In a Facebook video posted on Wednesday, Legba reported that his Arab employer, who works in law enforcement, warned him to avoid public areas, explaining that the authorities were detaining Nigerians indiscriminately. Legba explained that he was advised not to assume safety based on his legal status and decided to share this information publicly to inform other Nigerians in Libya.
Reflecting on the impact of the incident, Legba added, “The Super Eagles came to Libya, faced some challenges, and left. They’ve since received their compensation and returned to Nigeria. But the Nigerian community here is left to deal with the aftermath of this ruling. If Nigeria were in a better state, we wouldn’t be here facing these difficulties. The Nigerian team only dealt with one day of hardship—many of us face these kinds of issues daily. My Arab boss even mentioned that until the CAF fine is overturned, these arrests may continue.”
Libya INF.TV also posted a video on Thursday, in which a Nigerian man pleaded with the Libyan police to cease the indiscriminate arrests. He explained, “We have nothing to do with the football match. If you want to address the issue, do so with the responsible parties. We’re here as individuals who are not involved in football. Leave us out of this situation.”
The ongoing developments have prompted calls for international intervention, with many urging the Nigerian government to step in and advocate for the safety and rights of its citizens living in Libya.