In a scathing critique, 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner Kenneth Omeruo has condemned the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to allow Libya to host Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Omeruo’s concerns stem from the country’s ongoing instability, which he believes poses significant risks to players’ safety.
The Super Eagles defender drew from his own harrowing experience with Nigeria’s U-20 team in Libya, where they were caught in a precarious situation amidst rising tensions. “It was crazy… we didn’t know there was going to be a war situation, and we flew there to play. By the end, we got out, and then we saw on TV that there were riots happening in Benghazi,” Omeruo recounted in an interview with Arise TV.
Omeruo emphasized the need for CAF to prioritize players’ welfare, suggesting that sending a delegate ahead of the team to assess the security situation could have mitigated the risks. “I think it’s very important for us as Nigerians to at least have a delegate travel before the game. With that, the players will feel safe, and everything will be more organized.”
As a seasoned player, Omeruo’s words carry weight, highlighting the imperative for CAF to reconsider hosting decisions in embattled countries
