NFF withdraws Super Eagles from AFCON qualifier in Libya after airport incident

William Troost-Ekong, Super Eagles captain, has announced that the team will boycott the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya.

Troost-Ekong’s announcement via X comes after the team was held at the airport for “over 12 hours” upon arrival in Libya on Sunday for the second leg of their qualifying series, following their 1-0 victory in Uyo, Akwa Ibom on Friday.

In a series of tweets on Monday morning, Troost-Ekong expressed disappointment over the “unfair treatment” meted out to the Nigerian team in Libya.

He said the Eagles “have been held at an abandoned airport in Libya for over 12 hours” after their plane was diverted while descending. He said the players were left stranded without a phone connection, food, or drink.

The Al-Kholood defender also said the Nigerian team was not allowed to enter any hotels following “instructions from the Libyan authorities”.

Read the full statement below:

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 Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.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.

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.

Similarly, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said it is making plans to fly the team back home.

“Players have resolved not to play the match any longer, and NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home,” a statement from the federation reads in part.

CAF has yet to release an official statement about the situation in Libya.