The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has withdrawn the Super Eagles from their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya. This decision follows an incident where the team was delayed for more than 12 hours at Libya’s Al Abraq International Airport, raising tensions between the two countries.
On Sunday, October 13, the Super Eagles departed Nigeria for Libya, where they were scheduled to play the fourth match of their AFCON 2025 qualifier series. The match was set to take place in Benghazi at the 10,000-capacity Martyrs of Benina Stadium. However, upon arrival in Libya, the team encountered an unexpected obstacle.
Instead of landing at the Benghazi airport as planned, the Super Eagles’ chartered ValueJet aircraft was diverted to Al Abraq International Airport, located in a small town two hours away from Benghazi. Al Abraq Airport, primarily used for Hajj operations, was an unusual choice, and this sparked confusion and frustration.
According to a statement by the NFF, the players and officials were stranded for more than 12 hours at the airport, with no assistance from Libyan officials. The NFF reported that no reception team from the Libyan Football Federation arrived to greet the Nigerian delegation or arrange transportation to their hotel, which was said to be three hours away from the airport.
The NFF strongly condemned the treatment of the Nigerian team, describing the situation as unacceptable. A spokesperson for the NFF said, “The delay and abandonment of our national team at the airport were intentional and highly disturbing. It shows a lack of respect for international sporting protocols and the spirit of fair play.”
The federation suggested that the diversion of the aircraft may have been a deliberate move to disrupt Nigeria’s preparations for the match. “The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to a small airport away from Benghazi, just as the pilot was completing his approach to the Benghazi Airport,” the NFF statement said.
The airport ordeal took a heavy toll on the Super Eagles, who were left fatigued and frustrated by the delay. After spending hours at the airport without any proper accommodation or care, the players decided they would not play the match.
In a video shared by the Super Eagles’ media team, players and officials were seen sitting in the airport, waiting alongside their luggage. Their dismay was evident as Libyan authorities appeared indifferent to their plight.
According to the NFF, efforts were made to secure separate vehicles to transport the team to their hotel, but these plans were thwarted by the diversion to the remote airport.
The NFF, backing the players’ decision, announced that the team would be withdrawn from the AFCON qualifier, and arrangements were being made to fly them back to Nigeria.
This incident has sparked outrage among Nigerian sports officials and fans alike. Many are calling for the Libyan Football Federation to be held accountable for the mistreatment of the Super Eagles, which is seen as a violation of international sporting standards.
The Nigerian Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, also voiced his displeasure over the ordeal. He stated that the government would not tolerate the disrespect shown to the national team. “This is completely unacceptable. Our athletes deserve better treatment, and we will be seeking answers from the Libyan authorities,” the minister said.
In response to the crisis, the NFF has assured Nigerians that the safety and well-being of the Super Eagles remain their top priority. The federation is currently coordinating with the Nigerian government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and diplomatic channels to ensure the team’s safe return to the country.
The NFF’s statement highlighted that the decision to withdraw from the match was necessary to protect the players and officials from further harm and exhaustion. “Our priority is the safety and welfare of the Super Eagles, and after this traumatic experience, it would be unfair to ask them to play,” the NFF added.
The incident in Libya comes just days after Nigeria secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Libya in Uyo. The match, held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Friday, October 11, saw a late goal from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru that earned Nigeria the win.
This victory had boosted the Super Eagles’ hopes of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON, and the team had been eager to carry the momentum into the away fixture in Libya. However, the airport ordeal and subsequent withdrawal from the match have dampened those hopes, at least for the moment.
