The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially confirmed that the Super Eagles will not proceed with their scheduled Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya, originally set for Tuesday. This decision follows a harrowing experience for the Nigerian football team, who spent over 13 hours stranded at Al-Abraq Airport after being denied entry into Libya.
According to the NFF, despite prior clearance to land in Benghazi, Libyan authorities unexpectedly blocked the team’s entry, locking the airport gates and leaving the players without access to food, water, or communication. The ordeal prompted concerns over the health and safety of the players, which ultimately led to the withdrawal from the match.
After consultations with the team’s doctors, coaching staff, and players, the NFF advised not to proceed with the fixture. Team captain William Troost-Ekong revealed that the players, in conjunction with the coaching team, collectively decided to pull out of the game, citing hostile conditions in Libya.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Troost-Ekong said, “We have kept our spirit up, but these are no conditions we will accept when done on purpose. Travelling by road is not safe here, and you can only imagine how they would treat us in the hotel or the food they will try to give us. It was funny before, but as a team, we respect ourselves, and under these conditions, we won’t play.”
NFF Confirms Team’s Return
In response to the tense situation, the NFF swiftly made arrangements to fly the team back to Nigeria. The federation issued an official statement confirming the players’ resolution, emphasizing that the decision was made in the interest of their safety and well-being. The NFF expressed its disappointment with the turn of events but stressed that the team’s health comes first.
“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 said.
AFCON Qualifier Postponed Amid Safety Concerns
The now-postponed match was supposed to be the Super Eagles’ fourth qualifier as part of their campaign to secure a ticket to the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco. However, the diversion of their flight and the subsequent mistreatment in Libya led to their withdrawal.
Troost-Ekong highlighted the unacceptable conditions in which the team found itself, stating that even their Tunisian pilot was denied access to nearby hotels, while the Nigerian air crew members were refused entry. He questioned the standards of international football under such circumstances.
The ordeal has cast a shadow on the AFCON qualifying series, with both the NFF and Confederation of African Football (CAF) expected to engage in further discussions about rescheduling the match and addressing the treatment of the Nigerian national team during their time in Libya.
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