The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that it will conduct an investigation into the reported mistreatment of Nigerian football players at a Libyan airport.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has initiated an investigation into an incident involving Nigerian football players who refused to participate in an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier match against Libya on Monday. The players cited "mistreatment" at a Libyan airport as their reason for not playing.

In an official statement released on Monday, CAF announced that it has been in communication with both Libyan and Nigerian authorities following reports that the Nigerian National Football Team, known as the "Super Eagles," and their technical staff were stranded in troubling conditions for several hours at an airport to which they were allegedly directed by Libyan authorities.

CAF stated, "The matter has been referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board for investigation, and appropriate action will be taken against those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations."

According to the Nigerian football players, they were left stranded at the Libyan airport for over 12 hours. The Super Eagles had traveled to Libya on Sunday night but were redirected to Al Abraq International Airport instead of their intended destination, Benghazi Airport, which is over 200 kilometers (approximately 124 miles) away and takes about three-and-a-half hours to reach their hotel.

Celal Muheshis, an official at Al Abraq International Airport, informed reporters that the Nigerian team had decided to boycott the match scheduled for Tuesday, refusing to play in Libya. The official noted that the players opted to return to Nigeria rather than participate in the fixture, with some players alleging they were left without food and water during their prolonged wait.

Reports from Libyan media suggested that the Libyan national team had encountered similar treatment before their AFCON qualifier match in Nigeria on October 11, which was characterized as a form of retaliation.

The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) addressed the lengthy delay experienced by the Nigerian team, attributing it to routine air traffic and logistical challenges. "We firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation," the LFF stated.

This incident has heightened tensions in the lead-up to the AFCON qualifier fixture.