The Super Eagles of Nigeria have withdrawn from their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifying match against Libya following a harrowing 12-hour ordeal at Al Abraq International Airport.
The Nigerian contingent, including players and officials, landed in Libya on Sunday evening only to face unexpected obstacles that left them stranded and without assistance.
The Nigerian squad had travelled to Libya after securing a 1-0 victory over Libya last Friday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.
The match was part of the AFCON qualifiers, with the return fixture scheduled for October 15 in Benghazi.
However, their flight, which was initially bound for Benghazi, was diverted mid-air to Al Abraq, an airport several hours away from their intended destination.
Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe explained the situation: “About an hour to landing, the Nigerian aircraft approaching its destination, Benghazi, was diverted to another city more than a two-hour drive from the original destination.”
The airport lacked aviation fuel, preventing the team from making further progress.
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, revealed that no transportation was provided by the Libyan Football Federation LFF, leaving the players stranded at the airport without food, water, or communication facilities.
Captain William Troost-Ekong, in a series of tweets, described the experience as “disgraceful” and accused Libyan authorities of playing “mind games.”
“12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Libya… The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi without reason.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,” he lamented.
Troost-Ekong further criticised the treatment of the flight crew, stating that the Tunisian pilot, who managed the diversion, was denied accommodation under government orders. Nigerian crew members were forced to sleep on the plane.
In response to the ordeal, NFF officials announced the withdrawal of the Super Eagles from the qualifying match, citing the players’ fatigue and frustration.
“Players have resolved not to play the match any longer, and NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home,” the federation declared in a statement on Monday.
Reacting to the incident, the LFF denied any intention to sabotage the Nigerian team, claiming that their own delegation faced similar challenges in Nigeria during the first leg of the encounter.
However, the Nigerian government summoned the Libyan chargé d’affaires to express its displeasure over the incident.
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar called the situation “unfortunate,” noting that Nigeria would not tolerate such treatment.
“We have summoned the Libyan chargé d’affaires. This issue has to be resolved as quickly as possible,” Tuggar said, confirming that Nigerian officials had established contact with the stranded delegation.
The Confederation of African Football ,CAF, condemned the incident, describing it as “disturbing” and announced that it had launched an investigation.
CAF revealed that the matter had been referred to its disciplinary board for further action.
The Super Eagles have since returned to Nigeria, marking an abrupt end to the scheduled fixture.
The withdrawal leaves Nigeria at the top of Group D with seven points from three matches, while Libya remains at the bottom with only one point.
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