Following the frustrating 12-hour nightmare at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya, where the team had been stranded since their arrival on Sunday afternoon, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has decided to withdraw the Super Eagles out of the Tuesday’s 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.
D’GalleryTV reports that the Nigerian delegation had headed for Benghazi for the crucial game when their chartered aircraft was dangerously diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq, a small airport typically reserved for Hajj operations.
Consequently, the players and officials got stranded as they were not given any assistance by the Libyan Football Federation, which failed to provide transportation for the team.
In a statement on Monday, the NFF explained that the team were stranded at the airport for over 12 hours.
Also, they couldn’t access 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 football body said that the fatigued and frustrated players have resolved not to play the match.
In support of the players, the NFF has started arranging for the team’s return to Nigeria.
“The players have resolved not to play the match any longer, and NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home,” the statement said.
However, the Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong condemned the treatment by the Libyan authorities.
In a series of tweets early Monday morning, Troost-Ekong who described the situation as disgraceful accused the hosts of playing mind games.
He revealed that the team is 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 The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi without reason.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 behaviour,” he wrote.
Troost-Ekong also lamented 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, thereby 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.
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