The South Sudan national football team, known as the Bright Stars, recently encountered significant difficulties upon their arrival at Benina International Airport in Benghazi, Libya. The team was detained for approximately three hours without access to food or water, during which Libyan Migration authorities confiscated their passports. This situation mirrors an incident from October 2024, when the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, faced similar hardships in Libya, including being stranded at a remote airport without basic amenities.
In the case of the South Sudan team, the absence of a representative from the Sudan Football Association (SFA) exacerbated the situation, leaving the players and staff without support upon arrival. The South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) released footage and statements highlighting the distressing conditions faced by their delegation.
These recurring incidents have raised concerns about the treatment of African national football teams in Libya. The SSFA has called for intervention from both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to address these issues and prevent future occurrences.
The Libyan Football Association has yet to comment on these incidents, leaving many to question Libya’s preparedness and suitability as a host for international football matches.
