Nigeria’s Super Eagles players were stranded at the Abraq International Airport in Libya on Sunday after the North African nation made a last-minute change to their travel route and asked their flight captain not to land in Benghazi, the closest airport to Benina Stadium, where they were scheduled to play a match.
Officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) said they only made arrangements to transport players from Benghazi to their hotels ahead of a qualifying match for the African Cup of All Nations (AFCON) against the Mediterranean Knights of Libya on Tuesday.
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The Abraq International Airport is primarily used as a take off and landing location for Hajj pilgrims, the NFF said. It would take at least three hours to get to Benghazi, where they were scheduled to play.
The Libyan government did not provide alternative transport to convey the Nigerian players and football delegation out of the Abraq Airport.
William Roost Ekong, captain for the Super Eagles, disclosed Nigerian players were locked inside the airport, as they were refused exit from the airport.
“12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted whilst descending,” Ekong wrote on X Monday morning. “Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.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.”
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“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,” the Eagles Captain tweeted.
Ekong posted pictures of players sleeping on the hard floor and airport chairs.
The Super Eagles said they have reached out to the Nigerian government to intervene.
Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister Yusuf Tuggar said Head of the Nigerian Community in Benghazi, Morris Eromosele, arrived in Libya around 6:00 a.m. on Monday with supplies and Internet access for the players but that he was refused access to Bayda city, where the Abraq Airport is located.