Nigeria boycotts football match over ‘cruel treatment’

Nigeria’s national football team has boycotted a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Libya, citing alleged mistreatment after being stranded overnight at an airport in the North African state.

The Super Eagles had been scheduled to arrive in the eastern city of Benghazi on Sunday and play Libya on Tuesday. However, their flight was unexpectedly diverted to Al Abraq, some 230km from the game venue, team captain William Troost-Ekong reported on Monday.

“12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted whilst descending. Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.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. All to play mind games,” Troost-Ekong wrote on X.

“As the captain together with the team we have decided that we will not play this game,” he declared.

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) later stated that the decision to withdraw had been taken due to “trauma, fatigue, and body aches [caused by] very cruel and unimaginable treatment” that had left some of the players ill.

The NFF said its delegation, which included 22 players and team officials, spent 19 hours at the Libyan airport, and that a request for them to board buses it eventually hired was denied by the facility’s security officers with “insults.” 

“At past midnight, it was learnt that there had been word from ‘higher authorities’…that the Nigeria delegation should be delayed for minimum of 10 hours at the airport for what they falsely claimed was done to their team in Nigeria,” NFF spokesperson Ademola Olajire stated.

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The incident follows a similar accusation by the Libyan squad during their trip to Nigeria for a match last Friday, which the Super Eagles won 1-0. Libyan officials claimed they were left stranded for hours after being rerouted to Port Harcourt and were not given a bus to make the 130km journey to Uyo.

The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has, however, denied Nigeria’s allegations, claiming that the “diversion of their flight was not intentional.” 

“We firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation. It is important to highlight that just last week, our own national team faced significant challenges upon our arrival in Nigeria for the third match of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification,” it wrote on X.

In another statement, the LFF condemned the NFF for pulling out of the game, stressing that it will take all legal measures to preserve the interests of the Libyan national football team.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said it has referred the Nigerian team’s “unacceptable” experience to its disciplinary board for “investigation, and appropriate action will be taken against those who violated” its rules.