CITIZENS COMPASS – Ahead of Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has pulled the Super Eagles out of Tuesday’s match.
This was after being subjected to hostile treatment upon arrival in the country.
Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, said the team would no longer play its upcoming game against Libya.
Recall that the Nigerian team was left stranded at the airport after arriving for the matchday four fixture in Libya.
The flight, originally scheduled to land in Benghazi, was diverted to another city, forcing them to undertake a two-hour road journey.
The players and their staff were held at Al Abaq Airport for over 12 hours, with no permission to leave the arrival hall.
The Nigerian delegation, en route to Benghazi for the crucial match, encountered unexpected difficulties when their chartered aircraft was diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq, a small airport primarily used for hajj operations.
Upon arrival, the team was left stranded without assistance from the Libyan Football Federation, which failed to arrange any transportation.
In a statement released on Monday, the NFF explained that the Super Eagles were stuck in the airport for over 12 hours, unable to reach their hotel in Benghazi, located three hours away.
The federation expressed deep frustration over the mishandling of the team and highlighted the lack of support from their Libyan counterparts.
The statement reads, “The delegation of Nigeria to Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya still remained at the Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya.
“The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport away from Benghazi just as the pilot was completing his approach to the Benghazi Airport.
“We understand the Al Abraq International Airport is only used for hajj operations. Fatigued players and officials have remained nonplussed as the host Libyan Football Federation failed to send any reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, said to be 3 hours away in Benghazi.
“The NFF made arrangements for separate vehicles for the team, but the plan was unhinged by the diversion of the aircraft. Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home.”
Meanwhile, the Libya Football Federation (LFF) has said that the delay faced by the Super Eagles at the airport was normal.
