Nigeria’s Super Eagles Threaten Boycott of Afcon Qualifier in Libya

Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, has announced a potential boycott of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier scheduled for Tuesday in Libya. This decision comes in the wake of a distressing experience where the squad was stranded overnight at an airport following their flight being diverted.

The team was originally set to land in Benghazi on Sunday but was rerouted to Al Abraq, located approximately 230 kilometers away from their intended destination. According to a Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official, the players were “completely abandoned” and later locked inside the airport after attempting to arrange alternative transportation.

William Troost-Ekong, the team’s captain and center-back, took to social media platform X to express the players’ frustrations, stating, “As the captain, together with the team, we have decided that we will not play this game.” He urged the Nigerian government to intervene, describing the situation as disgraceful. Troost-Ekong further emphasized that he had faced challenges during away games in Africa before, but nothing compared to this ordeal.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has been contacted for comment regarding this situation, which has arisen amidst ongoing tensions between the two countries. Libya had previously complained about alleged poor treatment during their visit to Nigeria for the reverse fixture in Uyo last Friday. Libyan officials claimed they were rerouted to Port Harcourt and criticized Nigeria for failing to provide a bus for their journey to Uyo, which left them stranded for several hours. The NFF has denied these allegations.

Promise Efoghe, the NFF media manager, reported that no explanations were given for the flight diversion to Al Abraq. “No Libyan FA official has come to give reasons or provide any clarification,” he stated. The frustration was palpable as Efoghe detailed the lack of support from Libyan officials. “The Libyans made no effort to help. When the NFF tried to make alternative arrangements, we were locked inside the airport. It’s like we are in a prison.”

Striker Victor Boniface shared his concerns on social media, highlighting that the players were left without food, Wi-Fi, or proper accommodations, even posting images of teammates sprawled across airport chairs. Troost-Ekong described their treatment as a form of “mind games,” indicating the psychological toll of the situation.

Traveling from Al Abraq to Benghazi would take over three and a half hours by road, a journey the players are reluctant to undertake due to the precarious security situation in Libya. The country remains divided between two rival administrations: one in the eastern region, including Benghazi, and another based in the western capital of Tripoli. Both factions claim legitimacy, contributing to the ongoing instability.

Efoghe noted that the Nigerian embassy in Tripoli was “handicapped” and unable to assist the players because of the political climate. Troost-Ekong firmly stated, “We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security. It’s not safe.” He further lamented the potential quality of accommodations and meals if they were to continue with the trip under the current conditions.

The Super Eagles have maintained a strong position in Group D, having won their previous encounter with Libya 1-0 in Uyo on Friday, placing Nigeria at the top of the group with seven points. Meanwhile, Libya sits at the bottom with just one point and faces the risk of elimination from the tournament.

As the situation unfolds, the potential boycott of the match highlights not only the challenges faced by the players but also the broader issues of safety and treatment of visiting teams in the region. The Nigerian government’s response and any subsequent actions by CAF will be closely monitored as the Super Eagles navigate this tumultuous chapter in their qualification campaign.