Super Eagles Pull Out Of 2nd Leg Qualifier With Libya

By: Gyang Dakwo

There is a likelihood that the second leg AFCON 2025 qualifier between Nigeria and Libya will not hold due to the inhumane treatment of the Nigerian team in Libya.

Consequently, the NFF have announced they are now making arrangements for the Super Eagles to fly back to Nigeria.

The Eagles departed for Libya on Sunday morning expecting to land at Benghazi -10 kilometres from the match venue – but their flight was diverted to Al Abraq Airport which is a 3 hour drive to the match venue.

Players and officials, along with their luggage, were left stranded at the airport for over 12 hours, with the Libyan airport officials indifferent to their plight.

NFF said: “Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home.”

The football federation filed an official complaint to CAF Sunday, but are yet to get a response.

Captain William Ekong said the team will not play the game and that for their safety they will not make a three-hour bus ride travel from Al-Abraq to Benina, where the 2025 AFCON qualifier will be played tomorrow.

“As the team captain together with the teamwe have decided that we will NOT play this game,” he stated on X.

“…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.”

Rwanda also complained of ill treatment in Libya before another AFCON qualifier last month.

Libya claimed on arrival in Nigeria last week that they were poorly treated prior to the first AFCON qualifying match in Uyo, which Nigeria won 1-0.