NFF Pulls Super Eagles From AFCON Qualifier After Libya AirportTreatment

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has pulled the Super Eagles of Nigeria squad out of Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.

This decision comes after a frustrating 12-hour ordeal at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya, where the team has been stranded since their arrival on Sunday afternoon, October 13.

It was gathered that the Nigerian delegation was en route to Benghazi for the crucial qualifier when their chartered aircraft was diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq, a small airport typically reserved for hajj operations.

The diversion left Nigerian players and officials stranded with the Libyan Football Federation not offering any assistance to help their situation.

In a statement on Monday, the NFF detailed the frustrating situation, explaining that: “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.

The NFF also confirmed that the fatigued and frustrated players have agreed 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 statement concluded.

The NFF is currently arranging for the team to fly back to Nigeria, effectively pulling them out of the fixture.

 

In a related development...“We will not play this game” – Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong speaks on Nigeria’s airport ordeal in Libya


Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, Super Eagles captain, has revealed the team has agreed to boycott the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match with Libya following their airport ordeal. 

Nigeria defeated Libya 1-0 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, October 11. Both nations are scheduled to play the return leg in Libya on October 15.

However, upon arriving in Libya on Sunday, the Super Eagles were held at the airport and are still yet to be allowed into the country.

In a series of posts on Monday morning, Troost-Ekong expressed disappointment over the ‘disgraceful’ airport ordeal, and disclosed that the Nigerian team have agreed to boycott the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match with Libya.  

Read the full statement below: 

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 alter 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. 

We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen but these things on purpose have nothing to do with int. football.

LIB