Super Eagles Captain Slams Libyan Authorities After Team Held at Airport

Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has strongly condemned the treatment of Nigeria’s national football team after they were stranded at Al Abaq Airport in Libya for over 12 hours. The team was originally heading to Benghazi for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier but was redirected to Al Abaq without any clear explanation.

In a series of tweets on Monday, Troost-Ekong called the situation “disgraceful,” accusing Libyan authorities of playing “mind games.” He shared that the team was stuck in an abandoned airport with no access to food, drinks, or phone connections.

“We’ve been over 12 hours in an abandoned airport after our plane was diverted mid-landing. The Libyan government revoked our permission to land in Benghazi without reason. They locked the airport gates, leaving us without food or communication. This is disgraceful,” he tweeted.

Troost-Ekong also mentioned that their Tunisian pilot, who managed to land the plane despite the sudden change, was denied accommodation for his crew. The Nigerian crew members were forced to sleep on the plane, parked at the airport.

Due to safety concerns, Troost-Ekong announced that the team would not play the scheduled match and called for Nigerian government intervention. He also raised concerns about the risk of traveling by road in Libya and the poor conditions they might face if they stayed.

The Super Eagles were set to play the second leg of their AFCON qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights after a 1-0 win in Uyo. The Confederation of African Football has yet to comment on the situation.