Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, announced on Monday their decision to boycott the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya, citing severe disruptions to their travel plans. The players found themselves stranded overnight at Al Abraq Airport, approximately 220 kilometers (136 miles) from their intended destination of Benghazi Airport, where they scheduled the match to take place.
Team captain William Troost-Ekong voiced frustrations over the situation, describing it as a tactic of “mind games” employed by the Libyan team. He revealed that the airline diverted their flight without explanation and criticized the Libyan authorities for rescinding their approval for landing in Benghazi. Troost-Ekong took to social media platform X, stating, “They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food, or drink. All to play mind games.”
Photos shared by the players on social media depicted some of them sleeping on airport benches with their luggage scattered nearby, emphasizing the difficult conditions they faced.
Star striker Victor Osimhen, sidelined for the match due to a muscle injury, also condemned the situation in an Instagram post, suggesting that the Libyan Football Federation had orchestrated the ordeal to demoralize the Nigerian players. “It’s beginning to look more like a hostage situation,” Osimhen wrote. “My brothers and coaches must return home safely. We are not criminals or prisoners.”
The Nigerian squad includes several prominent players, such as Ademola Lookman, who recently scored a hat trick in the Europa League final and is currently on the Ballon d’Or shortlist, and Victor Boniface, a striker for German champions Bayer Leverkusen. The team also features several Premier League talents, including Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Wilfred Ndidi, all of whom contributed to Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over Libya in the first leg on Friday.
The Libyan team had previously accused their Nigerian counterparts of maltreatment before the first leg of the qualifier, a claim that the Nigerian Football Federation vehemently denied. Libya captain Faisal Al-Badri highlighted their own challenges, stating they experienced a three-hour delay due to security checks on their luggage before being transported to the match venue.
In light of the incident, Nigeria’s Sports Minister John Owan Enoh has instructed the Nigerian Football Federation to lodge a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF). “This must be on record and thoroughly addressed,” he emphasized in a statement.
With tensions rising between the two teams, the situation remains fluid as the Super Eagles stand firm in their boycott ahead of the match. The fallout from this incident could have significant implications for both teams in the ongoing AFCON qualifying campaign.
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