Abuja, Oct. 20, 2024 Sports Entrepreneur and former Gombe United Football Club Chairman, Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe swiftly took time to educate football stakeholders that are demanding an apology over his comments on the implications based on CAF rules on the botched Libya versus Super Eagles 2nd leg AFCON qualifier match in Benghazi.
In a no holdsbare Press statement made available to Journalists, He expressed regret at the level ingnorance Nigeria’s football authorities had exhibited following Nigeria and Libyan National Teams debacle.
In the statement, He said, “My attention has been drawn to a report which I confirmed that some hydra-headed stakeholders were critizing me based on my comments concerning the Super Eagles and Libya National Teams.
Some are even calling for my head, saying I should Apologise.
Firstly, let me categorically say here that I owe no one an Apology because I have done nothing wrong.
Those to apologise are People who brought disgrace to Nigerian Sports, those who have stollen Nigeria’s resources in Sports”.
Continuing, “There are people who have stollen anything there is in Nigerian football and are representing us in FIFA, they are the ones that supposed to apologise.
Someone was also given N24 billion in less than one year for the AFCON, and Olympic Games and it was squandered without a Medal. Did anyone ask Him to apologise?
And you are asking me to Apologise for exercising my foundamental human rights, for expressing my personal opinion? I’m not going to do that.”
The Chairman of Gombe State Athletics Association, said that, “I will still repeat that it is senseless for Eagles to return to Nigeria without playing the match in Libya.
According to him, “Libya is not at war, football games not played at the Airport, it is played at the Stadium, Irrespective of the experience Super Eagles faced at the Airport, they would have waited to here from CAF and the representative of CAF.
I heard someone saying, “How could they communicate to CAF when they are locked in at the Airport”
If they were locked in at the Airport, was Phone signals also locked out at the Airport?
Did the Match Commissioner also tell Nigeria He was locked in too?
Two weeks before Nigeria vs Libya Match, the match officials and the Match Commissioner are known.
The day you set out to play a match of that nature the authority resides with the Organizers (CAF).
The question I ask the Super Eagles, when they decided to return to Nigeria, did they get in touch with the Match Commissioner? If they were in touch with him, did he tell them the match is postponed, they can return to Nigeria?.
If they were unable to get in touch with Him, Why?
Gara-Gombe queried, “How could they have traveled to a match destination, they didn’t have the numbers of CAF match officials?
If they say they were locked in and no communication, How were they able to communicate to Nigerians via, WhatsApp, Facebook etc. all informations that came out from Libya?
In as much as I am not defending the Libyans actions, what I’m saying is that the Libyans Over reacted in their own response.
Something may have triggered the Libyans to retaliate, although, they have a history of being hostile to visiting teams,
What am saying is that there’s no smoke without fire.
I’m very surprised that those making comments on this matter including NFF officials are ingnorance of CAF rules.”
If you take the rules quiding the Civil Aviation on international flight, the rules says that, “Any international flight coming to Nigeria must land at international airport of host county before going to a local destination.”
This incident happened to a Moroccan team which I personally handled.
They came, on their way to Uyo, to participate in CAF Organised Competition two years ago,
They had a chartered flight with a choice to either land in Lagos or Port Harcourt.
Because the designated airport in Uyo don’t have facilities to process some documents through Customs and immigration, so they Landed in Port Harcourt first, they have to obey that.
A concession was given for them to fly to Port Harcourt and later Uyo as plans have been made for customs to do the normal routine checks of stamping passports etc.
So when the Libyans came because our football authorities are ignorant in handling these issues, the Libyans felt they were treated badly for not being allowed to land in Uyo.
If they were properly informed, it’s a different thing, but who is to inform them if not the same NFF who are to receive them, but because the Libyans don’t know, they felt it was a deliberate attempt by the NFF to frustrate them, so they also looked for a way to retaliate.
That was why they also diverted by preventing Super Eagles plane from landing in Benghazi International Airport as retaliatory measure.
He insisted that, “There is no CAF rule anywhere that says you must return to your country if harshly treated by your host county.”
“By this experience alone, Nigeria has redicled its political institutions because everyone was talking, NFF, Minister of foreign affairs, Sports Minister, even the Nigeria’s President was talking through his madia aides, NASS issued a statement which was unnecessary, who does that?
The 20 points footage of how Eagles suffered in Libya was a total embarrassment.
This was the most senseless behaviour I ever witnessed. You know that this matter may go to abiteration, why expose your defenses before time, no secrets anywhere.
If you want to protest, write a protest and wait for the Organizers (CAF) to decide.
Morocco and Algeria had problem recently, where the Moroccan team was detained inside the Stadium.
They were not allowed to come out, the King of Morocco didn’t say anything, even their sports, foreign affairs ministers didn’t talk,
The only man that handled the matter was the Moroccan Football Chairman.
With CAF, it is a football matter, here in Nigeria everybody is talking.
Who didn’t know that Libya is a hostile nation to Nigeria, they don’t like us. Politically, in the last ten years, we have been blaming Libya for the insecurity in Northern Nigeria.
We accuse Libya for allegedly selling Arms to terrorists in Nigeria and they took note of that, therefore, any single thing about Nigeria, irritates them and usually takes it seriously.
If they have any opportunity to deal with Nigeria they do without looking back”.
Also note that migrants from Nigeria are dumped in Libya, so there are political issues to be considered.
The NFF allowed super Eagles captain to announce the boycott of the Match, where does that power came from? A player, it was not his job. A Captain’s job Should be in the dressing room and on the field of Play outside pitch is a no no, as decisions to be taken outside should resides with NFF officials.”
“Again I heard one fellow say Gara Gombe is attacking Super Eagles because no player from the North is playing in the National team. Can you imagine how mean and stupid some people can be?
On this matter, I have said my own, I can’t apologise to anyone.
We would be making the greatest mistake if Nigeria think CAF will award Nigeria three points and three goals. The best they will do is to insist the match between Nigeria vs Libya be played in Benghazi and may fine Nigeria for abandoning the match.”
CAF are not fools, they will listen to Nigeria and Libya, the Noise Nigeria made so far does not matter, there are no sentiments or emotions, CAF rules are supreme on this matter.”
What does CAF rules say over Teams alleged maltreatment at the Airport, none, as all these are not captured in the rules, so on what bases is Nigeria going to argue this?
In CAF Organised Competition, there are standard rules, any incident not captured in the rules stands to be defeated or overruled by CAF.
The airport in any county is controlled by the country not CAF.
If Libyans didn’t bring water, food, a place to sleep at the airport or Wi-fi for communication and you take that as Maltreatment, CAF don’t care because all these are not in the CAF rules that can stop matches from taking place.
Ignorance of CAF rules by NFF officials is Nigeria’s Problem.
NFF failed to identify which government is in charge in Libya.
Yes, there are different authorities in Libya, which one does CAF deals with. NFF officials didn’t know.
CAF will begin to consider your request if all aforementioned incidents took place when the Super Eagles are in their Hotel not at the airport.
For instance Sudan have two Government, You have to identify the government CAF is dealing with should anything goes amis.
If you think you have a Nigerian as head of CAF Competitions, you are dreaming, it doesn’t work like that.
The Nigeria vs Libya issue is a test case for CAF, should CAF do anything outside its rules, CAF is finished.
The worst case scenario would be to play the match in Benghazi and place a fine on Nigeria for opting out of a Scheduled CAF Match.
For instance, “Nigeria’s travellers do face worse treatment which goes unreported all the time. Recently Air Moroc badly treated Nigeria passengers at the Airport and for 6 hours Nigerians were inside the aircraft. And when they disembarked and brought to the arrival terminal, there was no water, no food until they started to protest. We are not talking about that, we have forgotten just because it is Super Eagles everyone one is making noise.
NFF and football stakeholders should put their thinking Caps on, like I said, I will not Apologise.
NFF has not even briefed Nigerians probably on this matter, everyone is talking, issuing statements based on ignorance of basic CAF rules.” Gombe concluded
