The Super Eagles of Nigeria have withdrawn from their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya, citing security concerns and hostile treatment in the host country.
The announcement was made by team captain William Troost-Ekong in an Instagram story on Monday morning, following a series of events that left the Nigerian delegation stranded at Al Abraq Airport in Libya for over 12 hours.
According to Troost-Ekong, the team’s chartered flight, which was scheduled to land in Benghazi, was diverted to the smaller Al Abraq Airport without explanation, just as the plane was descending towards its intended destination.
The players and staff were left stranded at the airport, with no food, water, or access to phone communication, and were not permitted to leave the arrival hall.
Troost-Ekong detailed the deteriorating conditions in a statement, explaining that the team felt unsafe and unsupported.
“We have kept our spirit up, but these are no conditions we will accept when done on purpose. Travelling by road is not safe here, and you can only imagine how they would treat us in the hotel or the food they will try to give us. It was funny before, but as a team, we respect ourselves and under these conditions we won’t play,” he said.
In a separate statement issued by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) on Monday morning, the federation confirmed the players’ decision to withdraw from the match and announced plans to return the team to Nigeria.
The statement described the diversion of the flight as “strange and dangerous,” noting that Al Abraq Airport is typically used only for hajj operations.
“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 said.
The federation expressed frustration with the handling of the situation, highlighting the lack of support from the Libyan authorities and the absence of any reception or transportation arrangements from the Libyan Football Federation.
The Nigerian team’s plan to arrange separate transport was disrupted by the unexpected change in landing location.
This incident marks a significant setback for the Super Eagles, as the match against Libya was a crucial fixture in their campaign to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco. Scheduled to be their fourth match in the qualifiers, the game was seen as pivotal in the team’s efforts to secure a spot in the tournament.
Troost-Ekong also called for intervention from the Nigerian government and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), criticising the treatment of the team as incompatible with international football standards. He noted that even the Tunisian pilot, who managed to navigate the last-minute change to the unfit airport, was denied accommodation at nearby hotels if accompanied by Nigerian crew members.
Netizens are taking to various media platforms to air their discontent describing the situation as “inhumane and unprofessional”.
In his social media message, Troost-Ekong expressed the team’s frustration, stating, “At this point we have called for our Nigerian Government to intervene and rescue us. As the captain together with the team, we have decided that we will NOT play this game. CAF should look at the report and what is happening here. Even if they decide to allow this kind of behaviour, let them have the points.”
The Nigerian delegation’s decision to withdraw from the match and return home has stirred conversations about player safety and the handling of international fixtures. The NFF is now working on arrangements to bring the Super Eagles back to Nigeria, while the AFCON qualifying campaign remains in question amid the controversy.
