The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has decided to pull the Super Eagles out of Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya, following a 12-hour ordeal at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya. The team had been stranded since their arrival on Sunday afternoon.
According to The PUNCH, the Nigerian delegation was en route to Benghazi for the crucial qualifier when their chartered flight was dangerously diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq, a smaller airport primarily used for hajj operations.
The sudden diversion left the Super Eagles and their officials stranded without any support or transportation from the Libyan Football Federation, which failed to facilitate their journey to Benghazi.
In a statement issued on Monday, the NFF described the chaotic situation. The team had been stuck at the airport for over 12 hours, unable to travel to their hotel in Benghazi, which was three hours away.
The NFF explained, “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, strange and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport just as the pilot was completing his approach to Benghazi Airport.”
Exhausted and frustrated by the lack of assistance, the players resolved not to play the match.
The NFF supported their decision and has begun arranging for the team to fly back to Nigeria, effectively pulling them out of the qualifier. “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 they received from the Libyan authorities in a series of tweets on Monday. He described the situation as “disgraceful” and accused the hosts of playing “mind games.” Troost-Ekong detailed how the team had been kept in an abandoned airport without access to food, drinks, 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 The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi without reason.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,” he wrote.
He also highlighted the challenges faced by the Tunisian pilot, who had no accommodation provided for his crew after managing the unexpected diversion. While the pilot rested at the airport, Nigerian crew members were forced to sleep on the plane.
This incident could have serious implications for Nigeria’s AFCON qualification prospects, as well as potential disciplinary action from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“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.
