Nigerians have expressed their displeasure with the way the men’s senior national team, the Super Eagles have been treated by the Libya authorities at the airport.
The Super Eagles arrived in Libya ahead of the second leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game which is scheduled to be played on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. According to reports, the decision to treat them this way was because they were unhappy with how Nigeria treated them when they arrived for the first leg which was played on Friday, October 11, 2024, in Uyo.
However, the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) has debunked the situation starting that what happened to the Libyan players was a case of misunderstanding.
However, the NFF has decided to fly the Super Eagles back to Nigeria as the players have opted not to play the game as they are not in the right state of mind after being delayed for over 12 hours at the Al Abraq Airport.
What did the NFF say about the Libya vs Super Eagles of Nigeria game?
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.
Here are a few reactions from Nigerians;
Saying the super eagles should boycott the match is just funny , very funny
— ABU AZEEZ (@AbuAzeezAbolaji) October 14, 2024
https://twitter.com/PoojaMedia/status/1845712516610945067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1845712516610945067%7Ctwgr%5Ea33f05adecfaab7db7f77657c29f9d5bdbb9f8ac%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnotjustok.com%2Fsports%2Fnigerians-react-to-super-eagles-treatment-in-libya%2F
Ekong said the Tunisian pilot was offered a hotel near the hotel, but all other crew members who were Nigerians, including players & NFF officials, were LOCKED inside the hotel on PURPOSE.
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) October 14, 2024
12 hours and counting.
The Nigerian players and officials are still stranded at the Al-Abraq airport in Libya.
There is NO WAY this match would be played. Absolutely not!
This is terrible from Libya and they have to be sanctioned by CAF. @CAF_Online @CAF_Media pic.twitter.com/I7vNkFqORK
— Bolarinwa Olajide (@iambolar) October 14, 2024
What has happened to the Super Eagles in Libya is not mind games or dark art. It's hostage taking & I expect the FG to issue a very strong statement.CAF itself must protect the sanctity of football by coming down hard on Libya.This is 2024. There is no room for barbaric conduct
— Babanla (@biolakazeem) October 14, 2024
This will never have happened if Ghadaffi was alive. The biggest undoing to the country Libya is losing Ghadaffi. It took them two decades back. They think like pigs
— Do2dtun Energy gAD (@iamDo2dtun) October 14, 2024
For everyone driving the "Libya are paying us back" narrative,the NFF put out a statement last week highlighting hw the Libyans were being hideous with their plans for arrival, yet the NFF provided cushion effect. We saw their antics even on the pitch. They've simply gone too far
— Olawale Adigun (@SportsAdigun) October 14, 2024
