The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that the Super Eagles will not participate in the second leg of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Libya after the team was detained at a Libyan airport for over 12 hours without basic necessities.
In a statement released on Monday, the NFF explained that the players have resolved not to play the match, and officials are making arrangements to fly the team back to Nigeria.
The ordeal began when the Super Eagles’ chartered flight, operated by ValueJet, was unexpectedly diverted from Benghazi to the smaller Al Abraq International Airport just an hour before arrival. The team was stranded at the airport without food, water, or internet access, with no explanation from the Libyan authorities.
“The diversion of the flight was both strange and dangerous,” the NFF’s statement read. “Al Abraq International Airport is primarily used for hajj operations and is far from Benghazi, where the match is set to be played.”
The Libyan Football Federation failed to provide any form of assistance or transportation for the Nigerian delegation, leaving them stranded and forcing them to sleep on the hard floors of the airport. With security guards keeping them locked within the airport compound, the players and staff were unable to leave.
The situation has cast serious doubt over the match, initially scheduled to take place in Benghazi. The NFF’s efforts to secure the safety and comfort of the team will now take precedence as they plan their return to Nigeria.
