Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, have been stranded at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya since their arrival on Sunday afternoon, following a series of unfortunate travel disruptions. The team was en route to Benghazi for the second leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Libya. However, their chartered flight was unexpectedly diverted to Al Abraq, a much smaller airport, instead of landing at Benghazi as planned.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) expressed frustration with the situation, which saw the team endure over 16 exhausting hours at the airport. The NFF reported that the diversion occurred just as the ValueJet charter plane was preparing to land in Benghazi, raising concerns and confusion. The reason behind the rerouting remains unclear, and neither the Libyan authorities nor the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the body overseeing football on the continent, has provided any official explanation.
Despite the team’s prolonged wait, CAF has yet to address the issue or condemn the Libyan authorities for their handling of the matter. The Nigerian contingent has been left in limbo, with no clear communication or support from football’s governing bodies.
After more than 16 hours, Libyan officials finally offered a bus to transport the team to their destination. However, the NFF is now facing a difficult decision: whether to accept the offer and proceed with the match or follow through on their earlier decision to boycott the game due to the unacceptable treatment of the Super Eagles.
With the 2025 AFCON qualifier scheduled for Tuesday, uncertainty looms over the fate of the match, as the Nigerian football authorities deliberate their next move.
