Libya Launches Mass Arrest of Nigerians in Retaliation for CAF Ruling

Following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) ruling on Nigeria’s complaint regarding the mistreatment of the Super Eagles in Libya, reports indicate a wave of arrests and fines imposed on Nigerian migrants in the country.

The Nigerian football team was detained for over 20 hours at Al-Abraq Airport in eastern Libya upon arrival for their second-leg match in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya’s national team. Originally scheduled to land at Benghazi Airport, the team’s flight was abruptly redirected by Libyan authorities to Al-Abraq, approximately 150 miles from their intended destination.

This unexpected delay caused outrage, leading the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to withdraw the Super Eagles from the match and file a formal complaint with CAF. On October 26, CAF’s disciplinary committee awarded the Super Eagles three points and three goals, penalizing the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) for violations of tournament regulations. Additionally, CAF imposed a $50,000 fine on the LFF, payable within 60 days.

In response, LFF President Nasser Al-Suwai’I criticized the ruling as “unjust and malicious,” alleging that NFF’s influence affected the decision. Libyan news outlets reported that the LFF intends to appeal the ruling, possibly escalating the dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Public Campaign Against Nigerians

Following the CAF decision, Libyan media channels have urged authorities to clamp down on undocumented Nigerian workers, with some suggesting a $500 fine and mandatory taxes for Nigerian residents. On Facebook, Libya News Today 1, with over 188,000 followers, supported these calls, stating, “The fine that Libya is accused of will be paid by Nigerian citizens who live in Libya.”

Some Nigerian residents in Tripoli, such as Adenaike Emmanuel, reported that arrests began almost immediately after the CAF announcement. Emmanuel mentioned that Libyan authorities are indiscriminately detaining Nigerians, regardless of their immigration status, in apparent retaliation.

President of the Nigerian community in Libya, Peter Omoregbie, confirmed that raids had commenced in areas like Tedora. Omoregbie expressed frustration at the situation, noting that the issue originated in the sports sector, which should ideally remain separate from government intervention.

Libyan rights advocate Ahmed Hamza, chairman of the National Institution for Human Rights, condemned retaliatory actions against migrant workers. Hamza emphasized that foreign workers, especially Nigerians, should not be scapegoated, urging restraint from law enforcement and media outlets.

Amid the escalating tension, Nigerian nationals in Libya are appealing to the Nigerian government and international bodies for assistance, highlighting a concerning wave of arrests in the wake of CAF’s ruling against the LFF.