The Super Eagles will not play in Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya due to the inhuman treatment meted to the Nigerian national team by their extremely hostile host.
The Nigerian Football Federation, in a statement, on Monday, said the decision to pull out the national team followed the 12-hour ordeal the team was subjected to at the Al Abraq International Airport in Libya, where the team has been stranded since arrival Sunday afternoon.
According to reports, the Nigerian delegation was on their way to Benghazi for the crucial qualifier when their chartered aircraft was diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq, a small airport typically reserved for hajj operations.
The unscheduled diversion left the players and officials stranded and the Libyan Football Federation never made any move to help nor provide alternative transportation.
In the statement, the NFF detailed the unfortunate development, explaining that the team was marooned at sparingly used airport for over 12 hours, without any means of reaching 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 NFF stated. “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.”
Based on this inhuman treatment by the Libyans, the fatigued and frustrated players decided not to play the qualifier. Consequently, the NFF has put it’s weight behind the players’ decision, and is reported to be making arrangements for the team to return home.
“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 which, he said, cast a big slur on Africa.
Troost-Ekong described the situation as “disgraceful” in a series of tweets on Monday, accusing the hosts of playing dirty “mind games.”
He recounted the trauma in detail:
“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 The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi without reason.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.”
Troost-Ekong is not doen. He also recouted the difficulties faced by the Tunisian pilot, who managed the unexpected change in destination but was subsequently refused accommodation for his crew based on a purported government order.
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,” the Nigerian captain 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.
Predictably, Nigerians are angry about the hostile disposition of the Libyans who are adept to using primitive tactics to frustrate opponents. They recall that this isn’t the first time Libya is using underhand tactics to frustrate Nigerian teams, both club and national. They did it to Enyimba Football Club and others. Now, the present debacle.
The Nigerians, therefore, want their government to use all diplomatic means, at governmental level, to get justice. They want the barbaric behaviour of the Libyans reported to CAF and FIFA.