Just In: Libya Threatens ValueJet Pilot For Testifying In Favour Of Super Eagles

Libya’s CAF Executive Committee member, Abdul Hakim Al-Shalmani, has voiced dissatisfaction with the testimony given by Captain Abdellatif Merchergui, the Tunisian pilot who flew the ValueJet plane carrying Nigeria’s delegation to a contentious Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in early October.

Recall that the Nigerian team encountered a multitude of hardships when their flight was rerouted from Benghazi Airport to a smaller facility, Al Abraq Airport.

This diversion resulted in the players and officials being held for over 15 hours, deprived of essential needs such as food, water, and access to the internet.

Captain Merchergui, Acting Head of Flight Operations at ValueJet, served as a primary witness for Nigeria in the hearing.

Al-Shalmani, despite lacking aviation expertise, dismissed Merchergui’s testimony as “false and slanderous,” alleging it skewed in favor of Nigeria rather than maintaining diplomatic respect between Libya and Tunisia.

Al-Shalmani announced plans to pursue legal action against Merchergui, stating he intends to submit a formal complaint against the pilot for “breaching integrity and honesty standards.”

He further alleged that Nigeria leveraged the star power of its well-known players to gain international support for the Super Eagles.

According to Libyan news outlet Libya Akhbar, Al-Shalmani claimed Nigeria used the prominence of its professional players to cast themselves as victims of Libyan hostility.

Condemning this tactic, Al-Shalmani remarked, “The portrayal by Nigeria as victims of our actions is an attempt to obscure the truth, as the testimony provided was entirely false.”