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 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 more than two hours drive from the original destination.
The players have been denied access to food, water and the internet. Pictures posted to social media on Monday showed that the players slept on chairs at the local airport overnight.
“We were expecting to land in Benghazi, but just as the Value Jet aircraft was making its approach, it was diverted to a local airport,” Olajire told Arise News on Monday.
“So, we are still here, we’ve not seen anyone from the Libya Football Federation, we are still at the local airport which is three hours from Benghazi, it has made things very difficult.
“So, we are still here and the players have resolved not to play the match again, we are making arrangements to fly back to Nigeria. That is the present situation.”
Earlier in the day, Super Eagles captain, William Troost Ekong, had said the players would boycott the game due to the mistreatment by Libyan authorities.
Nigeria won the first leg 1-0 in Uyo, courtesy of a late goal by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
The Libyans had alleged maltreatment by Nigerian authorities but the allegation was denied by the NFF.
