FORMER executive committee member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chris Green, has questioned Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) handling of the situation between Nigeria and Libya in relation to the ill-treatment of the Super Eagles.
After the Super Eagles were held hostage by Libya for over 18 hours, forcing the Nigerian side to boycott the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier billed for Tuesday in Benghazi, CAF referred the matter to its disciplinary committee for investigation.
There is video evidence of the inhumane treatment of the Nigerian contigent by the Libyan authorities and testimony of the Tunisian pilot of the Super Eagles’ plane on how actions of the North Africans, especially the last minute forced diversion of the plane, could have led to a crash and loss of lives.
Green believes CAF has enough evidence to take immediate action, rather than wait for the disciplinary committee to investigate.
“It was quite unfortunate, very unfortunate. It is a sad commentary of our football in Africa. This thing has been going on for ages unabated and nobody seems to want to check it,” Green told Brila FM on Wednesday.
“Football is played all over the world, CAF football is African football, it is not for one set of people in Africa; it is for the entire Africa and so when people like this begin to treat football as if they are barbarians, the least one would say is that it is condemnable.
“And again, I expect CAF, if they are up to their responsibility, to immediately clamp down on Libya. It is not a situation you have to send to the disciplinary committee.
“For what? It is so open in the face of it. Sanction them, then you now begin to review the matter. And not only that, make up policies that will Punish anyone who want to go this path in the future.”
The Super Eagles remain on top of qualifying Group D despite playing one match fewer than Rwanda (third) and Benin Republic (second).
