‘No Nigerian allowed’: Super Eagles captain speaks on Libya airport ordeal

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has spoken about the treatment of the team’s members who have been left stranded for over 12 hours at Al Abaq Airport in Libya.

Troost-Ekong said the Nigerian delegation to Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya still remained at the airport in Libya, saying Nigerians were not allowed to leave the airport under the instruction of the Libyan authorities.

The Super Eagles captain made this known in a series of tweets on his X account on Monday.

He stated: “12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Lybia after our plane was diverted whilst descending. Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.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. All to play mind games.

“I’ve experienced stuff before playing away in Africa but this is disgraceful behaviour. Even the Tunisian Pilot who thankfully managed to navigate the last minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land had never seen something like this before.

“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.”

‘No food, nowhere to sleep’: Super Eagles players stranded at Libya airport

Troost-Ekong called for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Nigerian government’s intervention on the matter, saying: “At this point, we have called for our Nigerian Government to intervene and rescue us.

“As the captain together with the team we have decided that we will not play this game. CAF should look at the report and what is happening here. Even if they decide to allow this kind of behaviour, 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.

“We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen but these things on purpose have nothing to do with int. football.”

The Star