Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has confirmed that the Nigerian team will soon be returning to the West African nation from their trip to Libya for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers. According to Troost-Ekong, the team's plane is currently being refueled in preparation for their journey home
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had revealed that the Super Eagles will not play their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifier against Libya on Tuesday after the team was stranded at Al Abraq Airport for over 12 hours.
The unexpected ordeal left players and officials fatigued, with no arrangements in place for their onward journey to Benghazi.
The Super Eagles, scheduled to face Libya in the second leg of their AFCON qualifier, were initially set to land in Benghazi, where the NFF had organized transport and accommodation. However, just an hour before their arrival, the team’s chartered flight was suddenly diverted to Al Abraq, a small city over two hours away by road.
Flight diverted, Super Eagles vow to boycott
Upon landing, the Nigerian team was met with confusion. No transportation, food, or accommodations were provided by the Libyan Football Federation, and players and staff were left waiting for hours without any communication from their hosts.
The NFF have since stepped in, arranging vehicles to transport the team. However, the sudden diversion derailed these plans, leaving the delegation stuck at the airport without any means of getting to Benghazi, their intended destination.
Reports suggest that players, frustrated by the situation, have decided not to play the match. NFF officials are now making plans to fly the Super Eagles back home, citing the dangerous and unacceptable treatment they have received.
The chaos has cast serious doubt on Tuesday’s AFCON qualifier. With the Nigerian national team now preparing to return home, it is highly unlikely that the crucial Group D match will take place as scheduled. The NFF is expected to lodge an official complaint with CAF regarding the incident.
As of now, it remains unclear what the next steps will be, but the Super Eagles’ focus is on returning to Nigeria after this unexpected and chaotic ordeal.
