October 17 – The Nigeria national team are back home after being trapped in a Libyan airport for more than 16 hours, their treatment being labelled as being ‘like a hostage situation’.
Nigeria were due to face Libya in Benghazi on Tuesday in the Africa Cup of Nations but boycotted the match after being left fuming by their treatment on arrival in the country.
The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) fiercely rejected any suggestion of “foul play or sabotage” even though Nigeria were top of Group D and unbeaten while Libya sat bottom of the group and knew that one more loss could see them eliminated from the competition.
The Super Eagles were due to arrive in Benghazi on Sunday but their plane was instead diverted to Al Abraq, which is about 230km away from their intended destination.
The Libyan authorities are then said to have failed to provide any transportation and the airport gate was locked with the players inside.
As a result, the Nigeran Football Federation released a statement saying they were boycotting the match and made arrangements to fly their players home.
“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 said.
“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.”
NFF media manager Promise Efoghe added: “No Libyan FA official has come to give reasons or provide any clarification. The Libyans made no effort to help. When the NFF tried to make alternative arrangement, we were locked inside the airport. It’s like we are in a prison at the airport.”
The situation has been slammed by a number of the players, with Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi saying: “This is not football. Very embarrassing. Hostage to a national team. Disgrace.”
Writing on Instagram, Nigerian star forward Victor Osimhen added: “This attempt by the Libyan FA is no longer just a delay, it’s an intentional tactic to weaken and ruin the morale of the players, and it’s beginning to look more like a hostage situation. The safety and wellbeing of my teammates and all the team staffs are the most important things right now.”
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