Nigeria stars REFUSE to face Libya and fume ‘let them have the points’ after claims they were ‘held hostage’ at airport
NIGERIA are refusing to play their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya following their abandoned airport “hostage” ordeal.
And that could see the Super Eagles forfeit the match and the points handed to their opponents.
The Nigerian national team were stranded at the wrong airport overnight when their Sunday chartered flight was diverted during the descent.
It is alleged the Libyan Government ordered the change in destination.
Nigerian players and staff were left without food, water or access to phone connections at the abandoned airport which had its gates locked.
Nigerian players believe the “hostage” conditions that lasted more than 18 hours were a petulant retaliation after Libya accused the Nigerian Football Federation of “poor treatment” ahead of the reverse fixture last week.
Nigeria hosted Libya on Friday, with the home team securing a 1-0 win in Group D.
And with the two teams due to face off in Libya on Tuesday evening, the Nigerian captain insists his team have decided they will not take to the field – and instead wanted to fly directly back to Nigeria.
Former Tottenham and Watford defender William Troost-Ekong wrote on X at 7.42am UK time on Monday morning: “As the captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game.
“CAF should look at the report and what is happening here. Even if they decide to allow this kind of behaviour, let them have the points.
“We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security it’s not safe.
“We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us IF we continued.
“We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria.
“Mistakes happen but these things on purpose have nothing to do with international football.”
He added at 1.07pm: “Power of social media. Apparently our plane is being fueled as we speak and we should be leaving to Nigeria shortly.
“Thanks for everyone’s support! I REITERATE: We would NEVER treat a guest nation for a game in this way.
“Mistakes happen, delays happen. But never on purpose!”
Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface added: “Been at the airport for almost 13 hours, no food no wifi nowhere to sleep. Africa we can do better.”
He also shared a video on X at 10.12am UK time from the grounds and claimed they had been holed up at the airport for 16 hours.
Boniface later tweeted at 12.24pm suggesting Nigeria are keen to concede the match: “This is getting scary now. You guys can have the point. We just want to return to our country.”
Approximately 15 minutes after Troost-Ekong said they should be “leaving shortly”, a photo was posted on social media at 1.20pm of the players queueing up to board the flight home.
Reports from Nigerian journalists alleged Libya charged five times the current market price for the fuel – after the Government eventually relented and issued a clearance to fly.
Troost-Ekong gave fans a detailed update on the scenes at Al-Abraq Airport in Libya, 150 miles and nearly a four-hour drive from Nigeria’s original destination of Benghazi.
Photos showed the players forced to sleep on seats in the empty terminal with their suitcases.
Video footage also appeared to show Nigerian football chiefs desperately pleading and negotiating with Libyan airport staff.
Troost-Ekong added: “12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Lybia after our plane was diverted whilst descending. Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.
“They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games.
“I’ve experienced stuff before playing away in Africa but this is disgraceful behaviour.
“Even the Tunisian pilot who thankfully managed to navigate the last-minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land had never seen something like this before.
“Upon arrival, he tried to find a nearby airport to rest with his crew to be denied at every hotel again under Government instruction.
“He could sleep there but NO NIGERIAN crew members allowed. They have returned to now sleep on the plane which is parked up.
“At this point, we have called for our Nigerian Government to intervene and rescue us.”
The stranded squad was understood to include Premier League stars Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Taiwo Awoniyi – plus ex-Leicester pair Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Ndidi fumed on his Instagram story: “This is not football. Very embarrassing. Hostage to a national team. Disgrace.”
He later added: “This is becoming scary… I’m scared for our lives.”
Actions like this go against the spirit of sportsmanship… this is uncalled for and inhumane
Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen was not with the squad but also hit out at the treatment of his team-mates.
He wrote on Instagram: “I am disappointed by the unfair treatment my brothers and coaches are facing at the Libya airport last night.
“Actions like this go against the spirit of sportsmanship. My support is with my team, and I know they’ll stay strong despite these obstacles.
“I call on CAF (Confederation of African Football) to intervene, as my team-mates and officials are still stranded at the airport in Libya.
“This is uncalled for and inhumane. We stand together, stronger than ever.”
Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar stepped in to get involved and help resolve the problems.
He revealed a compatriot arrived at the airport at 6am this morning with “necessary supplies and internet access”.
A minibus did turn up at one stage and in the morning the players were given the chance to get fresh air but were still stuck on the airport grounds.
Libya’s initial anger stemmed from the reverse clash in Nigeria last week.
Captain Faisal Al-Badri claimed the Nigerian Football Federation disrupted their own travel plans into Nigeria.
However, the NFF assistant director Emmanuel Ayanbunmi rejected the accusations and insisted he was not made fully aware of Libya’s itinerary because the Libyan FA general secretary “said he would get back to me but never did”.
Ayanbunmi also suggested that Libya refused the NFF’s offer of transportation arrangements and decided to hire buses independently.