By Ed Malik, A | October 25, 2022
ed@ddnewsonline.com
With arrangements concluded for Confederation of Africa Cup club competition, officials from the Embassy of Libya in Nigeria on Tuesday met with officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja on Tuesday to do a final review of the arrangements put in place to ensure a successful outing.
General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi received the Libyan officials, and led both sides to discuss how to harmonize arrangements for the CAF Confederation Cup duels involving two Libyan clubs against Nigeria’s Rivers United FC and Plateau United FC.
Plateau United will take on the Libyan Al Akhdar FC at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja while Rivers United will engage the Al Nasr FC at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt; which is the final preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup, where the winners will be guaranteed spots in the money-spinning group stage of the competition.
Abdul-Moeine Gargoum, Counsellor at the embassy and Ali Shrai, third secretary were in the delegation that represented the Libyan Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Ayad Al-Tayari, at the meeting in NFF Secretariat, Abuja.
In his opening remarks, Gargoum said, “We are at ease that Nigeria and Libya are good African brothers with excellent relations and all we have come to discuss is about seamless arrangements for our teams coming here and for the Nigerian teams going to Libya.”
“I have the assurance of the two Libyan clubs that they will accord Rivers United and Plateau United the best reception possible, and I have no doubt that our clubs will be treated in a similar manner here in Nigeria.”
In his response, the NFF Secretary General, Dr. Sanusi reiterated that football is a game of peace and love, that is meant to foster brotherhood, camaraderie, understanding and good neighbourliness.”
Sanusi said that football competitions are designed to bring nations, territories and jurisdictions closer to enable cordiality and warm relations.
“I am pleased to receive you on behalf of the Board and Management of the NFF. Nigeria and Libya are indeed brothers and I remember how much we fostered our brotherhood during the U23 AFCON qualifiers we played in 2019. Football is a beautiful game and is a game of love, peace and joy beyond the entertainment value.”
Continuing, Sanusi said, “The NFF will work assiduously with the two clubs involved – Plateau United and Rivers United – and ensure that the delegations from Libya are made to have good memories of their stay in Nigeria.”
The two Libyan teams, Al Akhdar and Al Nasr have concluded plans to fly into Nigeria this weekend aboard a co-shared chartered aircraft, which will, first disembark the Al Akhdar delegation in Abuja and then, proceed to Port Harcourt, Rivers State with the Al Nasr team.
The first leg matches hold on Wednesday, 2nd November with the second leg matches taking place on Wednesday, 9th November in Benghazi.