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Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, withdrew from their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier against Libya after being stranded for more than 16 hours at a remote Libyan airport. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) confirmed on Monday that the decision was made due to safety concerns and the poor conditions experienced by the team after their flight was unexpectedly diverted away from Benghazi, where the match was scheduled to take place.
The ordeal began when the team’s chartered flight, which was supposed to land in Benghazi, was redirected to Al Abraq International Airport, a small airstrip located over 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the match venue. The Super Eagles, left without food, phone service, or transportation, spent the night stranded at the airport. Despite their exhaustion, no representatives from the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) arrived to assist or transport the team to their hotel in Benghazi, according to the NFF.
NFF spokesperson Ademola Olajire expressed outrage at the situation, calling it unacceptable and dangerous. “Our players and officials were abandoned in a hostile manner. The entire world has seen what happened, and we expect CAF to take appropriate action,” Olajire said. The NFF added that the Libyan authorities had originally approved the landing in Benghazi but revoked it at the last minute without providing any explanation.
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong shared his frustration on social media, describing the situation as a deliberate attempt to unsettle the Nigerian team. “More than 12 hours stuck in an abandoned airport after our plane was diverted just as we were descending into Benghazi. The Libyan government canceled our landing for no reason, locked the gates, and left us with no food or drink,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The Libyan Football Federation denied any foul play, claiming that the flight diversion was due to routine security checks or logistical issues beyond their control. “We respect our Nigerian counterparts and reject any allegations of sabotage. We hope this misunderstanding can be resolved amicably,” the LFF said in a statement. However, the LFF hinted at possible legal action over Nigeria’s withdrawal from the match, accusing the NFF of failing to cooperate with local organizers.
Tensions between the two football federations had already surfaced in the days leading up to the match. Libyan captain Faisal Al-Badri had criticized Nigeria for poor hospitality during their previous visit for the first leg of the fixture, which Nigeria won 1-0. The NFF dismissed those claims, asserting that Libya’s own disorganization caused the issues.
Nigeria’s withdrawal has raised questions about their AFCON qualification prospects. The Super Eagles had been scheduled to face the Mediterranean Knights of Libya to secure their spot in the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco. Having earned seven points in three games in their group, Nigeria was well-positioned to advance, but the decision to forfeit the match could complicate their campaign.
CAF (Confederation of African Football) issued a statement acknowledging the incident and confirming that it had been in contact with both teams. The matter, CAF said, would be referred to its disciplinary board for further investigation. “Appropriate action will be taken if any member is found in violation of CAF statutes and regulations,” the statement read.
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