The Nigeria selection which was traveling to Libya to play a qualifying match for CAN 2025 this Tuesday evening has been stuck in a Libyan airport since Sunday evening. Deprived of water and food, the angry Super Eagles denounce unacceptable conditions. They should boycott the match and return to Nigeria.
“Disgraceful behavior!” William Troost-Ekong is furious. Since this Sunday evening, the Nigeria captain and all his selection partners have been stuck at Al Abraq international airport in Libya where the Super Eagles are due to play a qualifying match for CAN 2025 this Tuesday. The Nigerians were initially scheduled to land in Benghazi, more than three hours away, but the trip did not go at all as planned.
“They locked the airport gates…”
“More than twelve hours in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted during descent, William Troost-Ekong on X said. The Libyan government canceled our authorized landing in Benghazi for no reason. They locked the airport gates and left us without telephone connection, food or drink.”
And the defender continued: “I have already experienced this kind of thing playing away in Africa, but it is shameful behavior. As captain and with the team, we have decided that we will not play NOT this match. CAF should look into what is happening here.”
Towards a boycott of the Super Eagles
FC Nantes winger Moses Simon also reacted on social networks: “The Super Eagles are facing the situation in Libya while we are taken hostage,” tweeted the Canaries player who, like several teammates, posted photos of the Super Eagles sleeping on seats in an airport lobby. “No food, no wifi, no place to sleep,” wrote Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface. “The players are tired,” said Super Eagles communications manager Ademola Olajire, quoted by The Guardian.
According to Nigerian media, the Super Eagles have not obtained assistance from the Libyan Football Federation for a trip to their hotel in Benghazi. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) regretted this lack of support and the poor management of the events. She would have tried to reserve hotel rooms near the airport but orders would have been given to the establishments not to accommodate the Nigerian delegation.
The NFF would have supported the decision of its players not to participate in the match against Libya and would organize their return to Nigeria. The Super Eagles lead their group with one point ahead of Benin. Libya is 4th and last with one point
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