Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Nigeria Football Federation Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, who was with the team for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match, gives a detailed narration of the hellish 20-hour experience of the Super Eagles in Libya that caused worldwide outrage… 1) The chartered ValueJet aircraft departed from the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo at 11.55am on Sunday, 13th October 2024, and landed at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano at 1.10pm, for the completion of immigration formalities and for the aircraft to refuel. 2) The aircraft took off from Kano at 3.18pm, for the 3 hours and 35 minutes flight to…
By Nurudeen Obalola The Super Eagles have landed back in Nigeria after a nightmarish experience in Libya. They arrived back in the country around 6pm on Monday, almost 24 hours after they got to Libya for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the North Africans, which was scheduled for Tuesday. The contingent’s ValueJet plane landed in Kano on Monday evening, about five hours after leaving the Al Abraq airport in Libya. “Just in: Super Eagles finally return to Nigeria. Just landed in Kano,” the team’s media unit posted on WhatsApp at 6.01pm. The Super Eagles and their officials…
By Kayode John Former Green Eagles goalkeeper Peter Fregene has passed on at the age of 77. Nigerian football legend and close friend of Fregene, Segun Odegbami, broke the news in a Facebook post on Sunday. According to him, Fregene died in the presence of his family after a protracted illness. Odegbami, 72, had solicited financial assistance for Fregene and he thanked those who extended support to the deceased while he was alive. “And the Man died. A few minutes ago, Peter ‘Apo’ Fregene, OLY, former goalkeeper for Nigeria’s Green Eagles, who has been on life-support for the past one…
By Kayode John The Confederation of African Football (CAF) says it has asked its Disciplinary Board to investigate the ordeal of Super Eagles in Libya and promised to take action against any violation of its statutes and regulations. Super Eagles players and officials were locked up at the Al Abaq airport for more than 15 hours after arriving in Libya on a private plane on Sunday for the return leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. However, their flight was redirected from landing in Benghazi, the venue of the game, to Al Abaq airport, which is more…
By Kayode John The Libya Football Federation (LFF) has denied accusations of foul play after the Super Eagles have been left stranded at the Al Abraq airport for over 15 hours, since arriving in the country for a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier. The Super Eagles and officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) arrived in Libya on Sunday on a private flight scheduled to land in Benghazi, venue of the return leg of the AFCON qualifiers. However, their plane was redirected to Al Abaq airport, which is three hours drive from the original destination. The team has been held…
By Kayode John Minister of Sports Development John Enoh has backed the Super Eagles’ decision to boycott their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya scheduled for Tuesday. Super Eagles players and officials have been held hostage at an airport in Libya for over 13 hours after their plane was forced to land far from their destination on Sunday, when they arrived in the country for the game. The Libyan authorities diverted the private plane carrying the team from landing in Benghazi, the venue of the game, to Al Abaq airport, which is two hours drive from the…
By Kayode John Nigeria Football Federation’s Director of Communications Ademola Olajire has said the body is making arrangements to fly the Super Eagles back home after the players decided not to play the return leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying tie against Libya. The match is scheduled for Tuesday but the current situation has forced the Super Eagles to prioritise their safety and well-being. The players and officials have been locked up at an airport in Libya for over 14 hours after their plane was forced to land far from their destination on Sunday evening, when they…
By Nurudeen Obalola The Super Eagles are seriously considering withdrawing from Tuesday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Libya following inhumane treatment from the hosts. The Nigerian delegation arrived in Libya on Sunday evening and it has been a hellish experience for them since then. First, the Libyans diverted the Super Eagles’ plane from its original destination of Benina in the outskirts of match venue Benghazi, forcing it to land in the Al Abraq airport in Bayda city, which would require a road trip of three to four hours in dangerous terrain. The Nigerian players and officials were then…
By Nurudeen Obalola The Super Eagles of Nigeria were kept at an airport in Libya for hours after their plane was forced to land far from their destination on Sunday. The Nigerians are in Libya for the second match of their Africa Cup of Nations double-header against the North Africans, and arrived there on Sunday, two days before the fixture billed for Benghazi. A short video of less than a minute long, posted by the Super Eagles media team on Sunday night, shows officials of the Nigeria Football Federation in discussion with Libyan men in uniform, who appear to be…
By Kayode John Remo Stars returned to the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Nasarawa United in their Week 6 clash in Ikenne. The league leaders are back to winning ways after Kwara United ended their run in Ilorin last Sunday, with last season’s top scorer Sikiru Alimi, Stanley Joseph and Super Eagles full-back Ismail Sodiq netting in the second half against the visitors. Alimi headed home Joseph’s cross in the 51st minute to break the deadlock, and eight minutes later Joseph went from provider to scorer when he doubled…