CAF Insists on Super Eagles Playing Libya Despite Security Concerns – Sports Minister

The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, has revealed that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is pressuring Nigeria's Super Eagles to proceed with their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya, scheduled for Tuesday, despite recent security concerns.

The Super Eagles had earlier threatened to boycott the match after being held hostage for over 15 hours at Al Abraq Airport upon their arrival in Libya. In light of this, the Nigerian government has expressed its deep concerns over the players' safety.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Senator Enoh disclosed that he had a conference call with CAF President Patrice Motsepe and Secretary-General Mosengo Omba to address the situation. He stated that while CAF is keen on ensuring that the match goes ahead, the Nigerian government's primary focus is on the safety of its national team.“This morning, I was on a conference call with CAF President and CAF Secretary General. While the CAF President’s concern seems to be what to do to get the national team to participate in tomorrow’s match, I have instead informed CAF that the concern of the Government and people of Nigeria is first, the safety of the team and their safe return,” Enoh tweeted.

He further urged CAF to collaborate with the Nigerian government to prioritize the security and well-being of the Super Eagles, stressing that these should be the immediate focus before any consideration of the match.