Super Eagles boycott Libya match following 12-hour airport saga

Monday, 14 October, 2024 

McCreadie Andias 

Nigeria's men National football team, Super Eagles, have decided NOT to play their AFCON game against Libya on Tuesday, after being stranded for more than 12 hours at the Libyan Airport without acess to food, water, sleeping beds or internet. 

In a statement by captain, William Troost-Ekong. The team's flight was diverted from while descending, leaving the players and staff abandoned at an Al Abaq airport. 

“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“Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.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”. Ekong said in a statement. 

Earlier, the captain had shared photos of teammates Victor Boniface, Calvin Bassey, and other Super Eagles players sleeping on the airport benches, confirming the incident. 

The team was only offered a van to pick them up from the airport. 

The situation comes after Libyan players claimed their own players were treated badly in Nigeria ahead of the Super Eagles’s 1-0 win over the weekend – which was denied by the Nigeran Football Federation (NFF), who have since released a statement saying they will boycotting Tuesday’s match.

“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.” NFF said. 

“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 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.”Ekong added.