By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has pulled senior national football team, the Super Eagles out of Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya after players and team officials were virtually held hostage for over 12 hours at Al Abraq International Airport.
The Super Eagles were held at the airport, which was about three hours away by road to Benghazi, the venue of the Tuesday match against Libya.
This was after the plane carrying the team and officials was heading directly to Benghazi was diverted mid-air to Al Abraq said to be a small airport primarily used for hajj operations.
Howver after the plane landed, the Nigerian team was left stranded without assistance from the Libyan Football Federation.
The host team failed make arrangement to take the team to Benghazi while the vehicle arranged for the trip by the officials of Super Eagles was also not allowed to access the airport.
The NFF, In a statement released on Monday, the NFF explained that the Super Eagles were stuck in the airport for over 12 hours, unable to reach their hotel in Benghazi, located three hours away.
It also noted that the players of the Super Eagles have resolved not to play any longer while expressing deep frustration over the mishandling of the team and lack of support from their Libyan counterparts.
The NFF also stated that the players have now decided to withdraw from playing the match, and that arrangements are being made to fly the team back to Nigeria.
The statement reads, “The delegation of Nigeria to Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya still remained at the Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya.
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“The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport away from Benghazi just as the pilot was completing his approach to the Benghazi Airport.
“We understand the Al Abraq International Airport is only used for hajj operations. Fatigued players and officials have remained nonplussed as the host Libyan Football Federation failed to send any reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, said to be 3 hours away in Benghazi.
“The NFF made arrangements for separate vehicles for the team, but the plan was unhinged by the diversion of the aircraft. Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home.”
Super Eagles of Nigeria captain, William Troost-Ekong, had earlier indicated that the players may no longer play 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya
Ekong, on social media account expressed disappointment on how the airport gates had been locked, leaving players and officials with no food, drink, or phone connection.
“12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted whilst descending. Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason. They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games.
“I’ve experienced stuff before playing away in Africa but this is disgraceful behaviour. 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 something like this before.
“Upon arrival he tried to find a nearby airport to rest with his crew to be denied at every hotel again under Government instruction. He could sleep there but NO NIGERIAN crew members allowed. They have returned to now sleep on the plane which is parked up.
“At this point we have called for our Nigerian Government to intervene and rescue us. As the captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game. CAF should look at the report and what is happening here. Even if they decide to allow.
“This kind of behaviour, let them have the points. We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security it’s not safe. We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us IF we continued.
