A Tunisian pilot has shed light on the events that led to the Nigerian national football team being unexpectedly diverted to a remote airport in Libya ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
The Super Eagles, en route to Benghazi for a crucial match against Libya, were stranded for over 16 hours on Sunday after being redirected to Al-Abraq, a small airport nearly 300 kilometers from their intended destination.
In a video interview shared by Sports Journalist Pooja Media on X (formerly Twitter), the pilot explained that the diversion was mandated by Libyan authorities, not his choice.
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“Our flight plan was to land at Benghazi, and we had approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority. But during descent, we were instructed to divert to Al-Abraq by the highest Libyan authorities,” he said.
The pilot expressed concerns over safety risks, explaining that fuel calculations were based on the original destination. He questioned the directive but was told to proceed to Al-Abraq despite fuel limitations and safety concerns.
The airport, typically used for hajj operations, lacked essential navigation systems, making the night landing particularly difficult.
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“I had to make a visual landing, which is risky in those conditions, but we landed safely,” the pilot added, noting that his familiarity with the region helped manage the situation.
The diversion caused significant delays, leaving the Nigerian delegation stranded and without basic necessities for hours. As a result, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) decided to withdraw the Super Eagles from the qualifier, citing safety concerns and the players’ decision not to proceed.
This incident highlights the logistical and security challenges teams face when traveling to unstable regions like Libya.