National Teams
2025 AFCONQ: Super Eagles held hostage in Libya
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Libyan authorities have detained Nigeria’s senior men’s national team players and officials at Al Abaq airport as per The Libyan Observer.
The airport is far from their intended destination of the team in Benghazi.
The Nigerian aircraft was diverted mid-flight to Al Abaq, a city over two hours from Benghazi, just an hour before landing.
Libyan authorities deployed North African antics with total disregard for International diplomacy for Nigeria.
It can be recalled that the Libyan especially the team captain complained about bad treatment from Nigeria officials upon arrival in the country for the first leg which ended 1-0 in favour of the Super Eagles on Friday.
The Nigeria Football Federation has rejected claims of poor treatment on arrival in Nigeria by the captain of the Libya senior men national team, Faisal Al-Badri.
NFF insists the Libyan Football Federation created chaos for its own team, the Mediterranean Knights.
NFF’s Assistant Director (Protocol), Mr Emmanuel Ayanbunmi said the Libya Federation only informed the NFF that its team was landing in Port Harcourt, and not Uyo, only three hours to the team’s arrival on Tuesday.
The matchday four clash is scheduled for Tuesday at 8:00 pm Nigerian time.
