The Super Eagles had been due to play Libya on Tuesday in the city of Benghazi, where they hoped to seal a qualification berth for the finals in Morocco late next year. But after being stranded for more than 16 hours at an airport 250km (155 miles) away from their intended destination, the Nigerian players said they would not fulfil the fixture. “As the captain, together with the team, we have decided that we will not play this game,” William Troost-Ekong said on X. Nigeria beat Libya 1-0 in the reverse fixture in Uyo on Friday thanks to a late goal from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, taking them to seven points from three games in their group. Benin have six points, Rwanda two and Libya one.

The president, who was moved by the development, however, welcomed the safe return of the national team players to Nigeria. Tuggar, in a statement posted on his X account, said, “I have been closely monitoring the situation involving the Super Eagles in Libya. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, also condemned the poor treatment of the Super Eagles. The NIDCOM chairman appealed to the Super Eagles to remain calm while NFF decided the next line of action. The Super Eagles on field captain insisted, “At this point, we have called for our Nigerian government to intervene and rescue us.

Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong says his team have been left at an abandoned airport in Libya for more than 17 hours without food or drink. Nigeria’s football team will be flown back from Libya without playing their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match following their alleged “inhumane treatment” in the host nation, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said. The NFF is now making arrangements to fly them back to Nigeria before their match against Libya scheduled for Tuesday. “We were locked up in an abandoned airport for more than 10 hours like hostages.”On Friday, Nigeria beat Libya 1-0 at home in the southern city of Uyo. They lead Group D with seven points from three matches while Libya are bottom of the standings on one point.

The Nigerian soccer national team have officially boycotted their AFCON qualifier against Libya after their flight was diverted away from its original location with the team being held at the airport for over 12 hours, the team's captain William Troost-Ekong announced on Monday. Troost-Ekong announced the decision of the team to not play the game against Libya on X. "As the captain, together with the team, we have decided that we will not play this game. Apparently our plane is being fueled as we speak and we should be leaving to Nigeria shortly," he wrote. However, the team was stranded for more than 16 hours at another airport 155 miles away from their destination, according to Reuters.

The Federal Government, through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, says it’s currently in touch with the Nigerian Mission in Libya concerning the state of the Super Eagles. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation had decided to pull the Super Eagles out of the qualifier match against Libya. “Libya authorities hold Super Eagles and officials hostage at the Al Abaq airport in Al Abaq,” the Eagles media team said. Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, wrote on his X handle, “Over 14 hours spent at an abandoned Libyan airport. We need our Super Eagles back safe and sound.

On getting to the airport, the team had been stranded since their arrival on Sunday afternoon as they had now spent over 12 hours at the Al Abraq International Airport in Libya. THE Super Eagles of Nigeria have decided not to play the AFCON qualifier game against Libya on Tuesday due to a frustrating 12-hour delay ordeal. On getting to the airport, the team had been stranded since their arrival on Sunday afternoon as they had now spent over 12 hours at the Al Abraq International Airport in Libya. “The Nigerian delegation for Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya is still at Al Abraq Airport, 12 hours after landing. The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport just as the pilot was completing his approach to Benghazi Airport,” the NFF stated.

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Nigeria’s Sports Minister, John Enoh, has rejected the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) pressure to proceed with the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya, prioritising the team’s safety and well-being. The Super Eagles were left stranded at Libya’s Al Abraq Airport for over 15 hours, sparking widespread outrage. Mr Enoh confirmed CAF’s pressure to proceed with the match but declined, tweeting, “This morning, I was on a conference call with CAF President and CAF Secretary General. Musa, on his X page, stated, “I’m extremely disappointed by the unjust treatment of the Super Eagles, the NFF officials, as well as dignitaries in Libya. Nigeria, currently top of Group D with seven points, had beaten Libya 1-0 at home just days prior.

Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong spoke on behalf of the team and said that Nigeria would boycott the match and urged CAF (Confederation of African Football) to take action against Libya. But either way, the team was willing to forfeit the match. He wrote on Twitter/X:12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Lybia after our plane was diverted whilst descending. As the captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game. We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria.

FG summons Libya’s Chargé D’Affaires Over Super Eagles’ MaltreatmentThe Federal Government on Monday summoned the Libyan Chargé d’Affaires over the maltreatment of Super Eagles at Al Abraq International Airport, Libya. Tuggar said he was in torch with Ibrahim Gusau, the Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the Libyan Chargé d’Affaires in Nigeria to find a way to resolve the impasse. “Since last night, we’ve been on the phone with the chargé d’affaires because Libya doesn’t have an ambassador here. “So, we’re in touch with the chargé d’affaires, and I’m heading back to the ministry now, where we have summoned the chargé d’affaires, the Libyan chargé d’affaires. #FG summons Libya’s Chargé D’Affaires Over Super Eagles’ MaltreatmentSeveral Innovations Ongoing in Banking Industry-CBN

Adetilewa Adebajo, chairman Stationary Stores Football Club of Lagos has posited that the Libyan Football Association could face severe consequences as the Nigeria national team were left stranded in Libya ahead of their match on Tuesday. The ongoing situation raises questions about potential sanctions from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) against the Libyan Football Association. “It’s a shame, but I think at the end of the day, the sanctions that CAF and FIFA will impose on the Libya FA are going to be very punitive,” Adebajo warned. As the situation unfolds, the Nigerian football community waits anxiously for a resolution that ensures the well-being of the Super Eagles. In his tribute to Peter Fregene, Adebajo shared fond memories of the legendary player.

Nigeria have threatened to boycott their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Libya on Tuesday after being stranded for hours at an airport far from their destination where players said they lacked provisions and comfort. Stranded Nigeria team threaten to boycott Libya qualifier. "Once we landed, they’ve kept us in this abandoned airport for over 12 hours now without any provisions. 'AFRICA, WE CAN DO BETTER'The Libyan Football Federation said the incident was not deliberate and urged Nigeria to be understanding. Nigeria striker Victor Boniface complained he had been stuck at the airport for almost 13 hours with no food, WiFi or place to sleep.

“As the captain, together with the team, we have decided that we will not play this game,” Troost-Ekong said on X. “Apparently our plane is being fuelled as we speak and we should be leaving to Nigeria shortly.”Power of social media. Apparently our plane is being fueled as we speak and we should be leaving to Nigeria shortly. MORE FROM AFCON QUALIFIERS: Burkina Faso secures spot in 2025 African Cup of Nations finalsReuters has asked the Confederation of African Football for comment. ‘AFRICA, WE CAN DO BETTER’The Libyan Football Federation said the incident was not deliberate and urged Nigeria to be understanding.

The players and officials of the Super Eagles are set to depart from Libya following a tumultuous delay of over 14 hours and alleged mistreatment by the host country on Sunday. This was disclosed by a sports enthusiast, identified as Pooja Media, via his X handle on Monday. He wrote, “Super Eagles players and all officials are boarding to fly out of Libya to Nigeria. Thank God.”Confirming this, a player, Bruno Onyemaechi, wrote, “Me and Libya, I don wash my hands commot. Thank God I’m going back.”Prior to this, Libyan authorities were alleged to have refused to provide the Super Eagles’ chartered flight, ValueJet, with permission and aviation fuel to fly the players back to Nigeria.

Nigeria to forfeit Libya clash after being abandoned in airport for 16+ hoursNigeria to forfeit Libya clash after being abandoned in airport for 16+ hoursNigerian players have turned home, forfeiting an African Cup of Nations qualifying game against Libya scheduled for tomorrow after being left in an abandoned Libyan airport for over 16 hours ahead of their clash. 12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Lybia after our plane was diverted whilst descending. The Libyan Football Federation’s actions in this incident stain African football. These underhanded tactics undermine the integrity of African football and discourage talented players from participating in the continent’s premier competition. CAF and other governing bodies must work together to eradicate such practices and create a more conducive environment for the development of African football.