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    Libya vs Nigeria: NFF drop statement on team’s “hostage” situation

    Emma TeeBy No Comments3 Mins Read

    • Libya vs Nigeria: NFF release statement on team’s “hostage” situation

    Libya vs Nigeria: NFF drop statement on team's "hostage" situation
    Libya vs Nigeria: NFF drop statement on team’s “hostage” situation

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has released an official statement addressing the unfortunate delay experienced by the Super Eagles at the airport in Libya ahead of their AFCON 2025 qualifiers match against Libya, scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

    According to the NFF, the team has been stranded for over 12 hours, which has significantly impacted their preparations for the important Group D fixture.

    What did the NFF’s statement say about Nigeria’s airport delay?

    The NFF in the early hours of today, Monday, October 14, 2024, released an official statement regarding the ongoing situation involving the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Libya.

    The statement shared by sports journalist read, “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.”

    What happened to the Super Eagles in Libya?

    According to Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe, the Nigerian national football team faced a significant setback when their chartered flight was unexpectedly rerouted while approaching Benghazi, Libya, ahead of their AFCON 2025 qualifiers. The flight was redirected to a different city more than two hours away from their intended destination. This unexpected change left the team stranded at the airport for over 13 hours without proper accommodations or even internet access to communicate with officials and loved ones back home.

    The squad, along with team officials, had departed from Nigeria on Sunday morning, expecting to arrive and settle in Benghazi. However, the long delay has caused frustration among the players and officials, hindering their preparation for the crucial match scheduled for October 15, 2024.

    Meanwhile, tensions have been rising between the two football federations following the treatment Libyan players reportedly received during their visit to Nigeria last week. The Libyan team expressed dissatisfaction with the hospitality provided by Nigerian authorities, possibly adding to the strained relations. This came after Libya’s 1-0 loss in the previous AFCON qualifying match, where Nigeria secured a late victory through Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s decisive goal just four minutes before the end of the match.

    The Super Eagles’ delayed journey and airport ordeal have left the team’s participation in the upcoming Group D fixture in question, with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) working to resolve the situation and prioritize the players’ safe return.