Ex NFF Chief Tells Nigerians What to Expect Ahead of CAF’s Verdict on Libya Airport Saga

• The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will announce its verdict on the Libya vs Nigeria saga today
• Libyan authorities held the Super Eagles hostage for about 16 hours at Al Abraq International Airport
• A former chief of the Nigerian Football Federation has informed Nigerians of what to expect in the verdict

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will announce its verdict on the Libya vs Nigeria saga today, and a former chief of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has explained what to expect.

The NFF lodged an official complaint to CAF after Libyan authorities redirected the Super Eagles' flight and held the players and staff hostage for about 16 hours at Al Abraq International Airport.

CAF's disciplinary board met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday during the body's 46th Ordinary General Assembly, where it had a hearing on the case.

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Ex-NFF chief speaks on CAF's verdict

Former NFF second vice president Chief Victor Rumson Baribote has shared his thoughts on the saga ahead of the verdict today, explaining what he expects from CAF.

He claimed that the pilot’s evidence of last-minute diversion of the plane to a destination not in the plan offends aviation rules, adding that the Libyans acting in retaliation also offends football rules.

“If one goes by their complaint of not being treated fairly during the first leg in Nigeria, which they didn’t complain officially to CAF as a yardstick, that only is enough proof that amounts to retaliation, and you know it is a known rule that is not allowed in football because retaliation is a straight red card,” Baribote told Punch NG.

Baribote’s views were supported by former NFF presidential aspirant David Doherty, even though he expressed pessimism that anything serious could happen.

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“Personally, I think CAF should sanction Libya or hand them a hefty fine with the condition that all their matches going forward will be played outside of Libya,” he said.

“I think CAF is likely to be fair in their approach to this matter, considering other factors, i.e., Arab influence, etc. However, I will wait to see what they dish out tomorrow.”

The verdict is expected to be announced sometime today.

NFF Discloses Why Libyan Players Travelled by Road

Earlier, Briefly News reported that The Nigeria Football Federation's director of communications, Ademola Olajire, has lamented the Super Eagles' situation at the Libyan airport.

Nigerian players landed at Al Abaq airport in Libya but were left unattended by authorities in the country. The Libyan FA expressed regret over the situation, stating that their players also faced the same situation while in Nigeria for the first leg.

Source: Legit.ng