Watch: Libyan Fans Attack Benin Players, Captain Steve Mounié Calls It ‘A War Zone’
The Libyan Football Federation and its supporters have once again drawn global condemnation, this time following their violent treatment of Benin’s national football team during an AFCON 2025 qualifier on Tuesday.
This incident follows the September ordeal faced by Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who were stranded at an abandoned airport in Libya for over 20 hours.
Despite CAF sanctions against Libya’s football governing body, the violence seems unabated.
A Hostile Reception in Libya
Benin’s national team secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw to qualify alongside Nigeria from their group. However, their achievement came at a steep cost.
Following the match, Libyan fans pelted Benin players with objects as they exited the field, forcing security personnel to intervene.
Captain Steve Mounié described the experience as nothing short of a battlefield:
“It wasn’t easy. It was really a war zone. This Libyan team, this country, and its supporters didn’t respect us at the start of the match. They whistled our national anthem, and we made it personal,” said Mounié.
“We wanted to come out of this match with qualification, and we did it with difficulty. Benin is at CAN 2025, and we can be proud of what we achieved with this group of young players.”
Police Brutality and Chaos
Benin’s coach, Gernot Rohr, recounted an even grimmer aspect of the ordeal.
#JourDeQualif : “Les policiers libyens ont sorti leurs matraques pour nous taper dessus”
Gernot Rohr raconte le calvaire vécu par son équipe en Libye après le match pic.twitter.com/w8vs1F0W5N— CANAL+ SPORT Afrique (@cplussportafr) November 20, 2024
“The Libyan police took out their batons to beat us. It was shocking,” Rohr said.
The treatment of the team mirrors previous concerns over Libya’s capability to host international matches safely, raising questions about CAF’s oversight in the region.
CAF Intervention Needed
Although CAF had previously sanctioned the Libyan team and deducted three points for their misconduct against Nigeria, these recurring incidents highlight the need for stricter measures.
Despite the hostile environment, Benin’s resilience shone through as they booked their ticket to AFCON 2025, but the larger issue of safety and sportsmanship in African football remains unresolved.
What’s Next?
With this latest controversy, CAF faces renewed calls to address security concerns and ensure that such incidents do not tarnish the sport. Will Libya face further penalties, or will the cycle of violence continue?
