Football, an emblematic sport supposed to bring people together, unfortunately remains fertile ground for the expression of racism. From monkey cries in stadiums to bananas thrown at players, including systemic discrimination in governing bodies, football is struggling to get rid of this scourge. Despite awareness campaigns and sanctions, racist incidents persist, undermining the sportsmanship and social cohesion that football should promote.
An “inhumane” welcome that arouses indignation
The national team of Nigeriathe Super Eagles, took an unprecedented decision by boycotting their qualifying match for the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025 against the Libya. This drastic measure follows what the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) qualifies as “inhumane treatment” suffered by the team upon its arrival in Libyan territory.
The captain William Troost-Ekong denounced unacceptable reception conditions, highlighting the serious failings of the Libyan authorities. The team found themselves confined to an abandoned airport in the east of the country, deprived of food, internet connection and decent accommodation for more than thirteen hours. This situation not only compromised the physical and mental preparation of the players, but also raised serious concerns about their safety in a country still marked by political instability.
The reaction of the Libyan authorities, describing the incident as simple ” misunderstanding“, only exacerbated tensions. This attempt at minimization contrasts sharply with the seriousness of the facts reported by the Nigerian players and their staff, suggesting a blatant disregard for the well-being of visiting athletes.
Calls for action in the face of CAF’s inaction
The former Nigerian international Victor Ikpeba strongly criticized the decision to allow Libya to host international matches, calling the country ” high risk ». This controversy raises crucial questions about the criteria for selecting host countries by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and on its ability to guarantee the safety of the participating teams.
The NFF officially filed a complaint with the CAFrequiring a thorough investigation and appropriate sanctions. This approach highlights the need for a profound reform of the procedures for organizing continental competitions, in order to prevent such incidents from happening again.
The affair goes beyond the sporting framework to take on a diplomatic and humanitarian dimension. The inability of the Nigerian embassy to intervene effectively to protect its nationals highlights the complex challenges that African countries face in their bilateral relations, particularly in unstable political contexts like that of Libya.
This scandal comes at a critical moment in qualifying for CAN 2025, the Nigeria leading Group D with 7 points in three matches. The allocation of points from this aborted match could have significant repercussions on the final group ranking and, therefore, on the qualification of the teams for the final phase of the competition.
This incident is a sad reminder of the endemic racism that rages in Libya since the fall of Gaddafi. The country was infamous for its slave markets, where sub-Saharan migrants were sold like cattle. These abominable practices, revealed in 2017, shocked the international community and highlighted the depth of institutional racism in Libya. The treatment reserved for the Nigerian team seems to be part of this line of discrimination and contempt towards sub-Saharan Africans, showing that the road to eradicating racism in Libya remains long and difficult.
