Botched AFCON Qualifier: Diplomatic Row Looms As Libya Mulls Mass Arrests Of Nigerians

Nigerians living in Libya are currently facing possible mass arrests and heavy fines over their stay in the country.

The development may not be unconnected to the recent verdict of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in response to the complaint lodged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the maltreatment of the Super Eagles players in Libya.

The Nigerian men’s national team were detained at the Al-Abraq Airport for over 18 hours, after they had arrived for the second leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights.

In a ruling on October 26, CAF’s disciplinary committee awarded the Super Eagles maximum three points and three goals for the botched game.

In reaction, the Libya Football Federation (LFF) President Nasser Al-Suwai’I described the decision as “unjust and malicious,” and alleged that the NFF’s influence within CAF played a major role in the outcome in favour of Nigeria.

Following the CAF ruling, popular Libyan news blog, Libya News Today 1, which has over 188,000 followers on Facebook, posted on Sunday: “All Libyan TV channels are urging the government to arrest the Nigerian workers who are working here in Libya without legal papers. They have to pay $500 plus taxes.

“The fine that Libya is accused of will be paid by Nigerian citizens who live in Libya. We have been subjected to injustice. We have no borders with Nigeria. What benefit are they to us? They’re a burden on the Libyan people. They have to go back home.”

The social media post was followed by a video of a Libyan TV presenter, who said, “Anyone who is living in Libya and working without paying tax is eating haram, which means sinful money. The government should make every effort to arrest all Nigerians who are working in Libya so that they can pay a tax of $500 and regulate their stay in the country by obtaining residence permits.”

Another Libyan site, Libya INF.TV, reported that Libyan stations wanted the government to start arresting Nigerian workers.

“Those who don’t have Libyan papers will have to pay a fine of $500 for taxes. If you refuse deportation, no mercy. The Libyan government will pay the Nigerian government from their citizens’ money,” the post said.

LEADERSHIP reports that the calls for the mass arrests, if carried out by the Libyan authorities, may put Nigeria and Libya on a collision course.