The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has made the difficult decision to withdraw the Super Eagles from their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya. This follows a chaotic ordeal at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya, where the team was stranded for over 12 hours.
The Nigerian delegation was en route to Benghazi for the crucial qualifier when their chartered aircraft was inexplicably diverted 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.
In a statement, the NFF detailed the chaotic situation, explaining 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 noted that the fatigued and frustrated players had resolved not to play the match.
“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.
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong condemned the treatment by the Libyan authorities. In a series of tweets, Troost-Ekong described the situation as “disgraceful,” accusing the hosts of playing “mind games.”
He revealed that the team was being kept in an abandoned airport with no access to food, drink, or phone connections.
“12+ hours 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 The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi without reason.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 behavior,” 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 wrote.
“Upon arrival, he tried to find a nearby hotel to rest with his crew but was denied at every hotel, again under government instruction. He could sleep there, but no Nigerian crew members were allowed. They have now returned to sleep on the plane, which is parked up,” Troost-Ekong added.
The Super Eagles’ ordeal in Libya is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by African football teams when traveling to unfamiliar territories. The NFF’s decision to withdraw from the AFCON qualifier is a clear indication of the unacceptable conditions faced by the team.
