The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has pulled the country’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match with the Mediterranean Knights of Libya over the dehumanising treatment meted on the three-time Africa champions by their host.
The Nigerian delegation arrived at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, at about 5.50pm local time after the federal government decided that the Super Eagles should return home pending the outcome of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) investigation into the debacle.
Following Libya’s 1-0 loss to Nigeria in the first leg of the qualifiers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday, October 11, both teams were expected to face off again in Benina, for their fourth Group D match.
The Super Eagles departed for Libya on Sunday afternoon, but according to reports from the NFF camp, an hour before landing at Benghazi, their destination, the chartered Nigerian aircraft was diverted to Al Abraq, a city more than two hours’ drive from Benghazi.
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The unexpected diversion left players and officials stranded without assistance from the Libyan Football Federation (LFF), which failed to provide transportation.
The pathetic condition of the Super Eagles players and the accompanying officials was brought to public attention by the team’s captain, William Troost-Ekong, via his X account when he tweeted: “12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted whilst descending. Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.
“They have locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games.
“I have experienced stuff before playing away in Africa, but this is disgraceful behaviour. Even the Tunisian pilot who thankfully managed to navigate the last-minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land had never seen something like this before.
“Upon arrival he tried to find a nearby airport to rest with his crew only to be denied at every hotel, again under government instruction. He could sleep there but no Nigerian crew members allowed. They have returned to now sleep on the plane which is parked up.
“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. We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security; it is not safe. We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like.
“We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen but these things on purpose have nothing to do with [international] football,” he said.
NFF concurs
As a follow up, the NFF also issued a statement to announce that the “traumatised” players had unanimously decided to boycott the match for fear of their lives and arrangements were being made to fly them back to Nigeria.
“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 three 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,” said the NFF.
The football federation, therefore, said it had already lodged a formal complaint with CAF over the incident.
President Tinubu demands sanctions
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, welcomed the Super Eagles back to Nigeria.
He, however, demanded the Disciplinary Board of CAF to conduct a thorough investigation and recommend appropriate action against those “who wilfully violated the organisation’s statutes and regulations.”
President Tinubu applauded the players for keeping their spirit alive despite the excruciating ordeal in Libya.
We’ve no hand in Super Eagles ordeal – LFF
However, the Libya Football Federation (LFF) in a statement issued in the morning yesterday said it was incorrect to say there was a deliberate attempt to frustrate the Nigerian team.
“We are deeply concerned about the recent reports surrounding the diversion of the Nigerian national team’s flight ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Libya.
“While we regret any inconvenience caused, it is essential to note that such incidents can occur due to routine air traffic control protocols, security checks, or logistical challenges that affect international air travel.
“These are standard procedures at airports worldwide, and delays or rerouting, though unfortunate, are not uncommon. We have the utmost respect for our Nigerian counterparts and want to reassure them that the diversion of their flight was not intentional.
“There are no grounds to accuse the Libyan security teams or the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately orchestrating this incident. Such actions are inconsistent with our values and principles,” the statement read in part.
Genesis of the crisis
Before the first leg of the AFCON qualifying double-header was played in Uyo, the Libya Football Federation accused the NFF of abandoning the Knights on arrival in Port-Harcourt.
This was after pictures in which the players were seen sitting on bare-floor at the Port Harcourt International Airport, went viral on social media.
However, the NFF issued a statement to explain that the ordeal faced by the Libyans was self-inflicted.
The football federation also said despite the poor communication from LFF, it went ahead to provide air conditioned buses and adequate security to escort the Knights to Uyo, but the Libyan delegation jettisoned road transportation arrangements made for them and instead hired buses on their own.
“If they travelled on buses that were not air-conditioned, that had nothing to do with the NFF as they hired their own buses. We provided security for them, with men and vehicles in front and behind their buses, so we are unmoved about their complaints and threats,” said NFF’s Assistant Director (Protocol) Mr. Emmanuel Ayanbunmi.
So, the Libyan delegation, which was obviously infuriated by their experience before the 0-1 loss to the Super Eagles, allegedly vowed to extract their pound of flesh from Nigeria during the return leg in Libya.
Therefore, the ugly incidents on Sunday leading to the decision by Nigeria to pull out of the match appear to have been triggered by the claims of maltreatment earlier made by the Libyan delegation, Daily Trust gathered.
Libya’s Charge d’affaires summoned by FG
Meanwhile, before the decision to boycott the match with Libya was taken, the federal government had condemned Libyan authorities’ treatment of the Super Eagles, saying it was unacceptable and despicable.
Subsequently, Libya’s Charge d’affaires was summoned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to resolve the issue.
He said, “We have summoned the Libyan Charge d’affaires. Well, it is the most unfortunate situation, because the Super Eagles flew to Libya to play a match. This issue has to be resolved as quickly as possible. So we are on top of the situation.”
Condemnations trail Eagles’ nightmare in Libya
Separate statements issued yesterday by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Tuggar and the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, called on CAF to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves.
Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement signed by the spokesman of NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, alleged that travelling by road in Libya is most dangerous and not advisable because of the current security situation in the country.
Dabiri-Erewa said the safety of Nigerian players is paramount to the country, and was optimistic that the Ministry of Sports and the NFF would advise appropriately.
The Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh said: “The actions by the Libyan authorities are deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable.
“Holding our national team and officials hostage under any circumstances violates not only international sporting protocols but also the principles of respect and hospitality that should be extended to all visiting teams.
“The Nigerian government will not tolerate any form of disrespect or mistreatment toward our players and officials”, he said.
A former international and member of the NFF Technical Committee, Victor Ikpeba, and Super Eagles substantive captain, Ahmed Musa, also called for sanctions against Libya.
Speaking to SCORENigeria, Ikpeba, who was in Libya with the team said: “If CAF knows its job, Libya ought to be banned from international football.
“CAF is not mindful of the safety and wellbeing of players across Africa.
“This is a high-risk country and one really wonders who approved for Libya to be playing their games at home.
“I played for the Super Eagles for 10 years and I never experienced what I have in Libya in the last hours”, he said.
On his part, Ahmed Musa tweeted on X: “I am extremely disappointed by the unjust treatment of the Super Eagles, the NFF officials, as well as dignitaries in Libya.
“This is not sportsmanship, and I want the football governing body, @CAF_Online to intervene and investigate this incident.”
CAF investigating incident
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced its decision to investigate what it described as “disturbing and unacceptable experiences of the Super Eagles.”
The continental football governing body said it had referred the matter to its Disciplinary Board for investigation and appropriate action will be taken against those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations.
The match was to be played today at Benina Stadium.
Before the decision to boycott the match with Libya, the Super Eagles were leading Group D table with seven points from three matches.
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