ABUJA, Nigeria — On Monday, the Nigerian national soccer team announced their decision to boycott the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Libya. The players expressed their frustration after being stranded overnight at Al Abraq Airport, an experience that team captain William Troost-Ekong described as “mind games.”
The Super Eagles are set to compete in the second-leg match on Tuesday, having won the first leg 1-0 just a few days prior. During that match, Libya’s team raised accusations of sabotage against Nigeria, which continues to add tension between the two sides.
According to Troost-Ekong, the flight carrying the team was originally supposed to land at Benghazi Airport, but was unexpectedly redirected to Al Abraq Airport, located 220 kilometers (136 miles) away. The reason for this sudden change in landing plans has not been disclosed, and efforts to obtain comment from the Libyan authorities have been unsuccessful.
“The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi without providing any explanation,” Troost-Ekong stated on social media. He continued, “They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connections, food, or drink, all part of their strategy to play mind games.” Pictures shared by the players revealed them resting on airport seats, surrounded by their luggage, without any other passengers around. By Monday morning, some players appeared to be asleep in the terminal.
Star forward Victor Osimhen, who is sidelined from the match due to a muscle injury, voiced his concerns via Instagram about what he perceived as a deliberate effort by the Libyan soccer federation to demoralize Nigerian players. “It’s beginning to look more like a hostage situation,” he remarked, emphasizing the need for the team to return home safely. “We are neither criminals nor prisoners.”
The squad includes notable talents such as Ademola Lookman, who starred in the Europa League final last season and is on the Ballon d’Or shortlist, as well as Victor Boniface of German champions Bayer Leverkusen. Other prominent players from the Premier League like Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Wilfred Ndidi were also part of the team that secured a victory over Libya on Friday.
On the other hand, the Libyan team claimed they faced maltreatment prior to the first leg, an allegation that Nigeria’s Football Federation has firmly denied. Libya’s captain, Faisal Al-Badri, recounted a delay of three hours during which their bags were searched, before the team had to embark on a road trip to the match venue.
“This is not the first time we have experienced maltreatment in Africa, and we need reciprocity,” Al-Badri stated, reflecting ongoing tensions related to team treatment.
In light of the situation, Nigeria’s sports minister, John Owan Enoh, has mandated the soccer federation to lodge a formal complaint with the African soccer governing body. “This must be documented and thoroughly addressed,” he asserted in a statement.