Nigeria’s Super Eagles were subjected to an unfortunate and humiliating ordeal at Al Abraq Airport in Libya from Sunday to Monday, October 13-14, 2024. Upon arriving for their 2025 AFCON qualifying match against Libya’s Mediterranean Knights, the Nigerian team was unexpectedly diverted to Al Abraq, a distant airport over 200 kilometers away from their intended destination in Benghazi. What should have been a smooth arrival turned into a 17-hour nightmare, as the team was held hostage by Libyan authorities, with no access to food, water, or communication for hours.
The situation escalated when Libyan officials refused to supply jet fuel for ValueJet, the official carrier for the team, without providing any clear explanation. Stranded and unable to proceed to their hotel, the players and coaching staff were forced to endure discomfort and frustration, while the match, scheduled for Tuesday, was abandoned.
Players Voice Frustration on Social Media
As hours passed without any resolution, Super Eagles players took to social media to voice their frustration and concern about the treatment they received. Team captain, William Troost-Ekong, shared a harrowing account of the situation. He condemned the actions of the Libyan government, revealing how their plane was diverted at the last minute and how the team was left stranded without food, water, or internet. He also mentioned that even the plane’s crew was forced to sleep on board due to the refusal of local authorities to accommodate them.
Victor Osimhen, another prominent player, expressed disappointment at the lack of sportsmanship from Libyan authorities, calling the experience “unfair” and “against the spirit of football.” Other players, including Bright Osayi-Samuel and Moses Simon, echoed similar sentiments, lamenting how they were left in an unsafe and uncomfortable environment, questioning how such incidents could still happen in African football.
Nigerian Government Intervenes
The Nigerian government quickly responded to the crisis, with officials condemning the treatment of the national team. Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, summoned Libya’s Chargé d’Affaires to provide an explanation for the detention of the team. According to Tuggar, the Nigerian mission in Libya was immediately dispatched to provide assistance to the Super Eagles and establish contact with Libyan officials to resolve the situation.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), also weighed in, expressing her dismay at the unacceptable conditions the team had to endure. She highlighted the dangers of travelling by road in Libya due to the country’s security challenges and called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to address the incident with urgency.
Sports Minister Calls for Accountability
Nigeria’s Sports Minister, John Enoh, issued a strong statement condemning the actions of the Libyan authorities and calling for accountability. Enoh emphasized that the safety and well-being of the national team were paramount and revealed that he had been in touch with several high-level officials, including the National Security Adviser and CAF Executive member Amaju Pinnick. The minister assured Nigerians that every effort was being made to protect the Super Eagles and ensure such an incident would not happen again.
Enoh further called on CAF to investigate the matter thoroughly and take decisive action against the Libyan Football Federation for their failure to host the Nigerian team properly. With the ordeal over, the focus now shifts to how African football authorities will handle the fallout from this incident and whether further diplomatic tensions could arise between Nigeria and Libya.
