Nigeria players have been posting their fury after being stranded at an airport in Libya for more than 12 hours.
The Super Eagles had been due to play Libya in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifer on Tuesday night, but have been left fuming by the conditions they have been left in.
The Nigeria players are stranded at the airportX
Players, including Fulham stars Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey along with Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi, landed at Al Albraq airport, which is about two hours from their intended destination of Benghazi.
The Libyan authorities are said to have not provided any transportation and the airport gate was even reportedly locked.
As a result of this, the Nigeran Football Federation released a statement saying they were boycotting the match.
The statement said: “Super Eagles still at Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya!
“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.”
Super Eagles star Victor Boniface posted on X: “Been at the airport for almost 13 hours no food, no wifi, nowhere to sleep. African we can do better.”
Bright Osayi-Samuel added: “I’ve been stuck in a random Libyan airport for 15 hourse with no guarantee health and safety. We can do better.”
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