By Kayode John
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has revealed that he met Libya’s captain Faisal Al-Badri in Uyo to apologise for the challenges he claimed his team encountered after arriving in Nigeria for the first leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers last Friday.
Before the game which the Libyans lost 1-0 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Al-Badri claimed his team encountered delay and suffered mistreatment in the hands of Nigerian authorities. He then promised revenge in the return leg.
The revenge mission became an unprecedented ordeal for the Eagles after touching down in Libya on Sunday for the second leg.
Their flight which was scheduled to land in Benghazi, venue of the supposed game slated to hold today (Tuesday), was redirected to an airport in Al Abraq.
The Nigerian contingent comprising players, coaches and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials, were locked up in the airport for over 15 hours without food, water and internet access.
However, following international pressure and intervention, the Libyan government cleared the plane which had flown the Eagles into the country to leave after the players had decided to boycott the game.
“We would NEVER treat a nation coming to Nigeria this way. With all respect why would we have to do that vs Libya… we aren’t scared to play against any team,” Troost-Ekong wrote on social media after the team returned to Nigeria on Monday evening.
“I even apologised to the captain before the game in the tunnel when we played on Friday for their travelling issues, nothing we could do about it but I wanted them to know they are welcome.
“There is no history of Nigeria mistreating any of the big African teams when we play at home. So the question is WHY should we start now.”
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said it has referred the case to its disciplinary board for investigation and vowed to take appropriate action.
The NFF said the players suffered trauma, dehydration and aches.
