The Nigeria football team, led by captain William Troost-Ekong, faced a harrowing experience in Libya as they were left stranded at an abandoned airport for more than 17 hours without food or drink. The team had landed on Sunday ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Libya but were met with what they described as “inhumane treatment” by the host nation. The Nigeria Football Federation has decided to fly the team back to Nigeria without playing the match following these deplorable conditions.
Despite landing at Al Abraq International Airport on Sunday night and being scheduled to travel to the match venue in Benina by road, the team decided not to play the game due to safety concerns. Captain Troost-Ekong stated that the team will not make the three-hour bus journey from Al-Abraq to Benina and has resolved to not participate in the match. The team may potentially lose points if the fixture is considered a forfeit by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), but their safety and well-being remain a top priority for the players.
Troost-Ekong took to social media to share the team’s ordeal, posting photos of his teammates sleeping on seats in the deserted airport lounge. He described the situation as “disgraceful behavior” and highlighted that the airport gates were locked, leaving them without phone connection, food, or drink. The NFF has lodged a formal complaint with the CAF regarding the treatment of the team in Libya, while the Nigerian embassy in Libya reportedly cannot intervene without permission from the Libyan government.
Former African footballer of the year Victor Ikpeba, who was with the team in Libya, supported the decision to boycott the match and called for stiff sanctions against Libya. He suggested that Libya should be banned from international football given the high-risk nature of the country and the dangerous conditions the team faced during their stay at the airport. The safety of the players and those accompanying them was a major concern, with Ikpeba stating that they were essentially “locked up like hostages” for more than 10 hours in the abandoned airport.
The Nigeria football team had previously defeated Libya 1-0 at home in Uyo, leading Group D with seven points from three matches. In contrast, Libya was at the bottom of the standings with just one point. The decision to return to Nigeria without playing the match was made in light of the unacceptable treatment the team received in Libya and the safety risks associated with continuing with the scheduled game. The players expressed their frustration and disappointment with the situation, emphasizing the need for better treatment and conditions for visiting teams in international competitions.
