SamuelAfter been held at the Abraq Airport for more than 10 hours, the Nigerian National team has resolved not to play the match any longer.
NFF Statement
“Super Eagles still at Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya!
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.
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.”
Why Nigeria Will Not Play Libya
The Super Eagles captain Ekong, has expressed his dissatisfaction and frustration over the hospitality given to them during their travel to Libya.
“12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Lybia after our plane was diverted whilst descending. Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.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 behavior, 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.”
Why the Libyan Government held Nigerian team hostage at the airport
In prior to this event, the Libyans had posted this earlier on Facebook.
in regards to how the team was treated on their last visit to Nigeria. The Libyan team were made to land in port harcourt despite the fact that Uyo has an international airport and could have landed there directly. They were further delayed for several hours in a pathetic situation before proceeding for Uyo.
It all seems the Libyans have played the same coin for the Nigerians
Samuel
