Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
After the Super Eagles were stranded for 12 hours at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya Sunday, the Nigeria Football Federation, has decided to pull the national team out of Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.
Recall that 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 sudden diversion left players and officials stranded without any assistance from the Libyan Authorities.
NFF has described the manner in which the Eagles’ flight was diverted as dangerous.
The federation in a statement, regretted that after wasting 12 hours at the airport, the Super Eagles players could not travel to their hotel in Benghazi, which is three hours away.
The statement read: “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.”
According to the statement, the fatigued and frustrated players have now resolved not to play the match.
“The NFF, supporting the players’ decision, is currently arranging for the team to fly back to Nigeria, effectively pulling them out of the fixture,” the statement added.
“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.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong condemned the treatment by the Libyan authorities.
The Captain in a series of tweets early Monday morning, described the situation as “disgraceful,” accusing 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 The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi without reason.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 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.
Recall that 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 development has sparked off public outrage against Libya.
