Nigeria’s national soccer team announced on Monday they will boycott their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Libya after being stranded overnight at Al Abraq Airport, in what captain William Troost-Ekong described as “mind games.”
The team was diverted from Benghazi Airport, 220 kilometers away, with no explanation. Troost-Ekong claimed on X that the players were left without food, drinks, or phone connections. The Super Eagles had won the first-leg match 1-0 on Friday, amidst similar accusations from the Libyan side.
Libyan authorities denied any sabotage, explaining the diversion as routine air traffic or logistical challenges. Despite this, Nigeria’s players, including Premier League stars like Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, refused to play the second-leg match, set for Tuesday.
Star striker Victor Osimhen, who missed the match due to injury, called it an “intentional tactic” to demoralize Nigeria’s team. He expressed concerns about the players’ safety, describing the situation as feeling “more like a hostage situation.”
Libya’s football team had earlier accused Nigeria of mistreatment before the first-leg game, which the Nigerian Football Federation denied. In response, Nigeria’s sports minister, John Owan Enoh, instructed the football federation to file an official complaint with Africa’s football governing body.
