After arriving the Al Abaq airport, where it was re routed barely two hours to it’s initially intended landing in Benghazi, the Super Eagles players technical crew and delegation is still being held hostage at the airport as the Libyan officials have remained incommunicado, sending now official protocol to attend to the visiting team since the past 12 hours
The Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Monday October 14, 2024 therefore resolved to boycott the return of Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.
This followed obvious maltreatment by the Libyan government officials who kept and refused to clear the entire Nigerian team at the Al Abaq airport, 12 hours after they landed.
The decision, was contained in a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Monday morning.
Part of the statement reads, “Super Eagles still at Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya!
“The delegation of Nigeria to Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya still remained at the Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya.
“The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport away from Benghazi just as the pilot was completing his approach to the Benghazi Airport. We understand the Al Abraq International Airport is only used for hajj operations.
“Fatigued players and officials have remained nonplussed as the host Libyan Football Federation failed to send any reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, said to be 3 hours away in Benghazi.
“The NFF made arrangements for separate vehicles for the team but the plan was unhinged by the diversion of the aircraft.
“Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home.”
The statement further.noted that all efforts by the Nigerian contingent to make an alternative accomodations arrangements for the team has similarly been tested by the Libyan authorities as all the approached hotel stated that they were under strict instructions by the authorities not to offer accomodations for the visiting Nigerian side
The Morocco 2025 AFCON qualifying game is expected to hold tomorrow, (Tuesday) in Libya
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