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Former Super Eagles defender, Mobi Oparaku believes the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will ultimately refrain from imposing sanctions on Nigeria regarding the cancellation of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.
The much-anticipated Group D second-leg match faced an unexpected disruption after the Libyan Football Federation decided to hold the Super Eagles captive upon their arrival in Libya.
Libyan authorities diverted the Super Eagles’ flight to a remote airport far from their intended destination, thereby exposing the players to an unsettling experience. They were left without necessities, such as food and water, as well as access to the internet, for over 17 hours.
This unfortunate situation led the Nigerian squad to collectively decide against proceeding with the match under those circumstances.
In light of this incident, CAF took the necessary steps to delist the fixture and referred the case to its disciplinary body for further review.
While the decision from the disciplinary body is still pending, Mobi Oparaku is optimistic about the outcome. He believes that Nigeria’s historical reputation as a gracious host to visiting teams will play a significant role in the deliberations.
In an interview with Brila FM, Mobi Oparaku stated, “CAF understands that the reports coming out of Libya do not accurately reflect our conduct. We are not biased, nor do we mistreat our visitors. I firmly believe that CAF recognizes our commitment to fair play and cooperation.”
He further added, “I am confident that no sanctions will be imposed on Nigeria, and I trust we will receive a fair resolution to this matter.”
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