- Nigeria Football Federation pulls Super Eagles from Libya AFCON qualifier
- Super Eagles captain Troost-Ekong condemns the “disgraceful” treatment by Libyan authorities
- NFF arranges to fly the team back to Nigeria after players refuse to play
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has made the difficult decision to withdraw the Super Eagles from their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya.
This decision follows a distressing 12-hour ordeal at Al Abraq International Airport, where the Nigerian team was stranded with no assistance from local authorities. The situation quickly escalated into a diplomatic nightmare, leaving players and officials frustrated as they were abandoned in a strange Libya environment.
The Super Eagles’ troubles began on Sunday afternoon, October 13 when their chartered flight was unexpectedly diverted to Al Abraq, a small airport mainly used for hajj operations, instead of the team’s intended destination of Benghazi.
The diversion, which occurred just as the plane was about to land in Benghazi, left the team confused at first and more unfortunately stranded at the airport for over 12 hours. In a statement released on Monday, October 14 the NFF expressed their frustration, emphasising the Libyan Football Federation’s failure to provide necessary transportation.
“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, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport just as the pilot was completing his approach to Benghazi Airport,” the NFF stated.
Fatigue and frustration quickly set in as the players remained trapped at the airport, unable to reach their hotel, which was a three-hour drive away. With no food, drinks, or even phone connections available, the team ultimately decided not to play the match,
“Players have resolved not to play the match any longer, and NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home,” the NFF concluded.
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong did not also hold back in his condemnation of the treatment they received in Libya. In a series of tweets, he described the situation as “disgraceful” and accused the Libyan authorities of playing “mind games.”
Troost-Ekong revealed that the team had been kept in an abandoned airport with no access to essential needs,
“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.”
“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. 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,” he explained.
Eguavoen denies resignation rumours, says he’s still in charge
Previously, TheRadar reported that reports swirled in on Tuesday night, September 10, that Super Eagles interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen had resigned from his role following Nigeria’s goalless draw against Rwanda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
However, Eguavoen has swiftly denied these claims, clarifying that no such decision has been made and that he remains fully in charge of the national team.
