14th October 2024
Nigeria Football Federation NFF, has taken a decision to pull the Super Eagles out of Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations second leg qualifier against Libya.
This is due to the frustration of being kept stranded for over 12-hours at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya, since their arrival on Sunday afternoon.
The Nigerian delegation was en route to Benghazi for the crucial qualifier when their chartered aircraft was dangerously diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq, a small airport typically reserved for hajj operations.
The unexpected diversion left players and officials stranded without any assistance from the Libyan Football Federation, which failed to provide transportation.
In a statement on Monday, the NFF, explained that the team remained at the airport for over 12 hours, unable to reach their hotel in Benghazi, which is three hours away.
“The Nigerian delegation for Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya is still at Al Abraq Airport, 12 hours after landing. The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport just as the pilot was completing his approach to Benghazi Airport,” the NFF stated.
The NFF further revealed that the fatigued and frustrated players have now resolved not to play the match.
While supporting the players’ decision, the NFF is currently arranging for the team to fly back to Nigeria, effectively pulling them out of the fixture.
“Players have resolved not to play the match any longer, and NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home,” the statement concluded.
In his reaction to the situation, Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong condemned the treatment by the Libyan authorities.
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In a series of tweets early Monday morning, Troost-Ekong described the situation as “disgraceful,” accusing the hosts of playing “mind games.”
He revealed that the team was kept in an abandoned airport with no access to food, drink, or phone connections.
“12 hours plus in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted whilst descending. The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi without reason. They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without a phone connection, food, or drink. All to play mind games.
“I’ve experienced issues before while playing away in Africa, but this is disgraceful behaviour,” he wrote.
Troost-Ekong also mentioned the difficulties faced by the Tunisian pilot, who managed the unexpected change in destination but was subsequently refused accommodation for his crew under government orders.
While the pilot could rest at the airport, Nigerian crew members were not allowed to stay, forcing them to sleep on the plane.
“Even the Tunisian pilot, who thankfully managed to navigate the last-minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land, had never seen anything like this before,” he added.
