The Super Eagles of Nigeria found themselves stranded at Abraq International Airport in Libya, just two days before their crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights, scheduled for Tuesday.
The Nigerian team had departed from Uyo on Sunday morning, heading for Libya.
However, sports journalist Tobi Adepoju reported on Sunday night that the squad’s ordeal began when Libyan authorities unexpectedly diverted their chartered flight.
According to Adepoju, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had secured permission for the team’s flight to land in Benghazi, close to the Benina Stadium, where the AFCON qualifier is set to take place. However, in mid-flight, the aircraft was rerouted to Abraq International Airport, which is much farther from their destination.
“The agreement and approval the NFF obtained were for the chartered flight to land in Benghazi, but the plane was unexpectedly diverted to Abraq,” Adepoju explained.
The situation worsened when the team arrived at Abraq, as the Libyan Football Association provided no transportation to transfer the Nigerian contingent to Benghazi.
Despite transport arrangements being made for the team in Benghazi, no buses were sent to Abraq, leaving the Super Eagles stranded at the airport. To make matters worse, the airport gates were locked, preventing the team from exiting.
A video of the team waiting inside Abraq Airport has gone viral on social media, showcasing the frustration of the situation. Another video shared on NFF TV shows Nigerian officials speaking to airport authorities in an attempt to resolve the gate closure.
Nigeria currently leads Group D with seven points, following their 1–0 victory against the same Libyan team in the reverse fixture held in Uyo on Saturday. Despite the travel issues, the Super Eagles will hope to secure another win in Tuesday’s AFCON qualifier.
Leave a Reply