Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has announced that the Nigerian team has decided to boycott their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya following an ordeal at a Libyan airport.
The Super Eagles had defeated Libya 1-0 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, October 11, and were scheduled to play the return leg in Libya on October 15.
However, upon their arrival in Libya on Sunday, the team was held at the airport and has not been allowed entry into the country.
In a series of posts shared on Monday morning, Troost-Ekong expressed deep frustration over the “disgraceful” treatment the team received.
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He disclosed that the Nigerian squad had been stranded at an abandoned airport for over 12 hours after their plane was diverted mid-descent.
According to Troost-Ekong, the Libyan government unexpectedly rescinded their approved landing in Benghazi, leaving the team without food, water, or phone connection.
“I’ve experienced stuff before playing away in Africa, but this is disgraceful behavior,” Troost-Ekong wrote.
He detailed how the Tunisian pilot had struggled to find a nearby airport for the crew to rest, only for the Libyan authorities to deny accommodation to Nigerian team members. As a result, the crew had to sleep on the plane.
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The Nigerian captain called for the Nigerian government to intervene, stating that the team had unanimously decided to refuse to play the match under such conditions.
“As the captain, together with the team, we have decided that we will NOT play this game,” Troost-Ekong said, adding that safety concerns and the possibility of further mistreatment led to their decision.
The Super Eagles have asked the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to investigate the incident, though Troost-Ekong made it clear that, regardless of CAF’s stance, the team will not participate in the match.
“Let them have the points. We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here, even with security—it’s not safe.”
