Claim: Facebook pages, including “Stanley Fans” and TVC NEWS, claim that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) rejected a friendly match proposal from Libya.
Verdict: False. There is no evidence to support the claim that the NFF rejected a friendly match proposal from Libya.Full Text
Full Text
On Nov. 2, 2024, a Facebook page called Stanley Fans claimed that the Nigeria Football Federation had rejected Libya’s request for a friendly match. The post reads,
“NFF has rejected Libya’s friendly match request without delay. It says our squads focus on winning trophies and won’t welcome any distractions now. When we are ready, we will communicate back.”
As of Nov. 14, 2024, the post has gained traction with over 8,000 likes and 1,300 comments. Another page, TVC NEWS, also shared the same information, stating,
“NFF has rejected Libya’s friendly match request without delay. It says our squads focus on winning trophies and won’t welcome any distractions now. We will communicate back when ready.”
This claim likely emerged from recent tensions following a controversial AFCON qualifying match scheduled for Oct. 15, 2024. Nigeria’s Super Eagles withdrew from the Group D second-leg fixture of the 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifier match after being stranded for over 16 hours at Al Abraq Airport without food or communication, calling the conditions “inhumane.”
In response, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) penalised Libya, awarding Nigeria a 3-0 victory and fining Libya $50,000. Libya, however, disputes the withdrawal’s justification and has indicated it will take legal action to defend its stance.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a keyword search using “NFF + Libya + friendly match.” The only results were that of Stanly Fans and TVC NEWS, which shared the same unsubstantiated claim of the NFF’s supposed rejection.
DUBAWA’s findings reveal that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has not issued an official statement regarding a proposed friendly match with Libya. Additionally, the online posts lack specifics about the international window for such a game, casting doubt on their authenticity.
According to The Punch, the NFF has announced the dates and venues for the Super Eagles’ final Group D matches against Rwanda and Benin. According to Premium Times, Nigeria’s Super Eagles endured a disappointing 2-1 loss to Rwanda in their final game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Monday. The defeat means Nigeria’s unbeaten run in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers ended unexpectedly.
Conclusion
There is no evidence to support the claim that the NFF rejected a friendly match proposal from Libya.
