William Troost-Ekong, the Super Eagles’ captain, has shared how staff at a Libyan airport filmed and laughed at Nigerian footballers as they were delayed under unfavourable circumstances for no reason.
The Super Eagles players representing Nigeria in the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers decried the poor treatment meted out to them by the Libyan Authorities since they landed at Al-Abraq Airport in Libya on Sunday night.
“After our first tweets magically a team bus arrived and a driver who has been standing inside the airport filming us and laughing with some of the other staff since last night said the bus was ready 12 hours after we landed,” Troost-Ekong stated in a more recent post on X.
It has been 16 hours since the Nigerian contingent for the 2025 AFCON qualifying match against Libya, scheduled for Tuesday, landed at the Al-Abraq Airport, Libya, and was held hostage at the airport.
While narrating the events since he and the team landed in Libya on X, the captain said they were locked in the airport without a phone connection, food or drink.
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— William Troost-Ekong (M.O.N) (@WTroostEkong) October 14, 2024
“12+ hours in an an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted while descending. Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi without no reason. They have locked the airport gates and left without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games,” Troost-Ekong wrote on Monday morning.
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“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, but he was denied at every hotel again under government instruction. He could sleep there, but no Nigerian crew members were allowed. They returned to sleep on the parked plane.
Super Eagles players delayed under unfavourable circumstances. Source: X
Troost-Ekong also said that he and the team have agreed not to play the match.
He also urged the Nigerian Government and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to intervene.
“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,” the team’s captain said.
Super Eagles players delayed under unfavourable circumstances. Source: X
“Even if they decide to allow this kind of behaviour, let them have the points. We will not accept travel anywhere by road here, even with security. It is not safe. We can only imagine what the hotel or food that would be given to us would be like if we continued.
“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,” his post read in part.
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The Libya football team had accused the Super Eagles of poor treatment when they arrived in Nigeria for the third round of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers played on Friday.
They accused the Super Eagles of commuting them in old, non-air-conditioned buses to Uyo, Akwa Ibom, and threatened to treat Nigeria’s players the same way when they arrived in Libya for the second leg of the match.
The NFF denied these allegations from the Libyans.
FIJ called Promise Efoghe, the Super Eagles Media Officer, on Monday morning, but he had not responded to FIJ’s calls at press time.
Yussuf Maitama Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said he was monitoring the situation and has maintained contact with the NFF and the Libyan authorities but despite his efforts, the Libyan authorities failed to authorise the Nigerian Mission’s trip to Bayda City where the airport is located.
I have been closely monitoring the situation involving the Super Eagles in Libya.Through the Head of Nigerian Mission in Tripoli, Libya, Amb. Stephen Anthony Awuru, the Mission has maintained contact with the NFF, and the Libyan authorities since last night. Despite efforts,…— Hon. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (@YusufTuggar) October 14, 2024
“I have been closely monitoring the situation involving the Super Eagles in Libya. Through the Head of the Nigerian Mission in Tripoli, Libya, Amb. Stephen Anthon Awuru, the Mission has maintained contact with the NFF and the Libyan authorities since last night,” Tuggar stated on X.
“Despite efforts, Libyan authorities have not yet authorised the Nigerian Mission’s trip to Bayda City, where the airport is located. In the meantime, the head of the Nigerian community in Benghazi, Mr Morris Eromsele, arrived at the location at 6am this morning with necessary supplies and internet access. We will continue to follow developments and await a report for further action.”
The post ‘Staff Filmed, Laughed at Us’, Super Eagles Speak Out Against Poor Treatment in Libyan Airport appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.