Libya has come under renewed criticism over its treatment of visiting football teams following allegations of mistreatment of the South Sudan national football team at the airport. This latest controversy emerges just a year after Libya faced sanctions from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for similar misconduct.
In October 2024, Libya held Nigeria’s Super Eagles hostage at Al Abraq International Airport, prompting CAF to award Nigeria three points and three goals while imposing a $50,000 fine on Libya. The sanction significantly hampered Libya’s chances of qualifying for AFCON 2025.
A month later, another incident unfolded when Libya detained the Benin Republic team at the Tripoli International Stadium. During the ordeal, a Libyan policeman allegedly assaulted Benin’s coach, Gernot Rohr, following his team’s hard-fought draw.
South Sudan’s Airport Ordeal
The latest controversy involves South Sudan, who traveled to Libya ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Sudan. As Sudan plays its home matches in Libya, the South Sudanese delegation expected to be received by Sudanese officials upon arrival. However, no representatives from Sudan showed up, leaving the South Sudanese team stranded.
According to reports, Libyan immigration authorities seized the passports of South Sudanese players and officials, further complicating their entry process.
The South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) released a statement detailing the ordeal:
“Footage shows Bright Star stranded for three hours at Benina International Airport, Benghazi, Libya. The passports of the delegation were seized by the Libyan Migration Authority after the representatives of the Sudanese Football Association failed to turn up at their reception.”
This latest development raises fresh concerns about Libya’s treatment of visiting teams and could trigger further disciplinary actions from CAF. Football stakeholders are now calling on CAF to intervene and ensure that teams traveling to Libya for international fixtures are treated with fairness and respect.
