lThe Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has pulled the Super Eagles out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya on Tuesday.
This follows a frustrating 12-hour ordeal at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya, where the team has been stranded since their arrival on Sunday afternoon.
The Nigerian delegation, en route to Benghazi for the crucial match, encountered unexpected difficulties when their chartered aircraft was diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq, a small airport primarily used for hajj operations.
After their arrival, the team was left stranded without assistance from the Libyan Football Federation, which failed to arrange any transportation.
In a statement on Monday, the NFF explained that the Super Eagles were stuck in the airport for over 12 hours, unable to reach their hotel in Benghazi, located three hours away.
The NFF stated that the players have decided to withdraw from playing the match and arrangements were being made to fly the team back to Nigeria.
The statement reads: “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.”
Source: The Nation
My Take
The NFF has done the right thing to pull out of the game and the next right thing now is to lodge a formal protest on that with CAF and FIFA. The Libyans, clearly overstepped the bounds.
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On no grounds should the NFF and/or the players compromise safety. The players should be flown back to Nigeria immediately. There is sinister motive behind the behaviour of the Libyan government.
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