Super Eagles forced to Withdraw From AFCON Qualifier Against Libya

Twenty humiliating hours of distress was what the Super Eagles of Nigeria had to endure after they were left stranded at Libya’s Al-Abraq International Airport.

The poor show of sportsmanship by the Libyan authorities left the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) no choice than to officially withdraw the team from the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights, initially scheduled for Tuesday.

It was reported that the team had been cleared to land in Benghazi but was unexpectedly redirected to land in another airport , facing locked gates with no access to food, water, or communication.

Video that surfaced online showed players stranded with their luggage in the airport’s waiting area, highlighting the poor treatment by the Libyan airport authorities.
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As at The Time the Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong posted on X (formerly Twitter), he stated that they have already spent 12hours at the airport and still no one to attend to them.

“12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted while descending. The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason. They locked the airport gates and left us without a phone connection, food, or drink. All to play mind games.”

He backed his claims by sharing photos of the team members stranded at the airport.

Nigerians all over the world have expressed concern for the team’s welfare and safety, and called on relevant authorities to intervene.

After consultations with the team’s doctors and coaching staff, the NFF decided to boycott the match due to concerns over the players’ health and safety.

The team captain revealed that the decision was a collective one made by both the players and officials, who felt it was best not to proceed under the unfortunate circumstances.

Nigerian Sports Minister, Mr. John Owan Enoh condemned the treatment of the team and confirmed that the matter had been forwarded to the appropriate authorities.

“For now, our primary concern is the safety of the members of our national team. With the events of the past hours, their safety is not guaranteed and the super eagles insists they’re unable to go ahead with the match not just because of the trauma and consequent psychological torture but also because of fear for their safety. As Sports Minister, I have instructed the NFF president to file a formal complaint to CAF without prejudice to any actions already taken. This must be on record and thoroughly addressed.”

The super eagles bid to face the Libyan side at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, but this rather unfortunate mistreatment have led to the end of their journey.

As it stands, Nigeria tops Group D with 7 points, while Libya is at the bottom with just one point.

All eyes are now on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to conclude their investigations and decide if the return leg of the match will be played on a neutral ground or if it will be counted as a NO-SHOW for the super eagles and the three points awarded to Libya, both parties eagerly await the final verdict.

Photo Credit @William Troost-Ekong @nff

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