VIDEO: Super Eagles players ‘held’ at Libyan airport ahead of AFCON qualifier

Libyan authorities appeared to have held the Super Eagles of Nigeria’s travelling contingent following their arrival in the North African country on Sunday.

The flight conveying the team was also diverted from Benghazi, where the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match is expected to take place, to another city.

The Super Eagles defeated Libya 1-0 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium last Friday on matchday three of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.

Both nations are set to meet again on matchday four, with the Nigerian team traveling to Libya on Sunday evening.

But in a video released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Super Eagles players and officials were seen trying to resolve the issue at a Libyan airport.

VIDEO: Super Eagles ‘delayed’ at Libyan airport ahead of AFCON qualifierpic.twitter.com/Q0boWzDuGC #SoarSuperEagles

— TheCable (@thecableng) October 13, 2024

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The airport officials were also seen preventing Nigeria’s contingent access to their destination for the upcoming match, leaving them stranded at the airport.

Airport gate locked.

Libyans. Because of football.

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😂😂 pic.twitter.com/rm5tNo2FiW

— Adepoju Tobi Samuel 🇳🇬 (@OgaNlaMedia) October 13, 2024

4+ hours at the Abraq Airport. pic.twitter.com/4XHZCk79RR

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— Adepoju Tobi Samuel 🇳🇬 (@OgaNlaMedia) October 13, 2024

Players were seen discussing in groups while their bags were left on the airport floor.

Speaking with journalists, Promise Efoghe, Super Eagles media officer, revealed that the aircraft was redirected to an airport in another city, identified as Al Abaq.

Efoghe added that the airport is located at least two hours from the original destination.

“About an hour to landing, the Nigerian aircraft approaching its destination, Benghazi was diverted to another city more than a two-hour drive from the original destination,” Efoghe said.

Nigeria tops Group D of the qualifying series with seven points from three matches. Libya is bottom of the group with one point from three matches.

Nigeria and Libya are expected to square off at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi on October 15.