Super Eagles Captain Troost-Ekong Declares Team Won’t Play AFCON Qualifier After Being Stranded at Libyan Airport
Benghazi, Libya – Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has announced that the Nigerian national football team will no longer participate in their scheduled 2025 AFCON qualifying match after being stranded at Libya’s Al-Abaq Airport for over 13 hours.
The Super Eagles’ chartered flight, which was initially headed to Benghazi, was diverted to the remote Al-Abaq Airport. Since then, the team has been left without food, water, or communication, and Libyan authorities have provided no support.
Troost-Ekong expressed frustration over the ordeal, stating, “We can’t play the match under these conditions. We’ve been here for hours, and it’s become clear that we won’t be able to participate as expected.” The team has also refused to travel by road due to safety concerns, citing the instability in Libya.
He called on the Nigerian government for immediate intervention, adding that if CAF (Confederation of African Football) decides not to sanction Libya, the Libyan team can take the points.
This decision marks a significant blow to Nigeria’s AFCON qualification campaign and raises serious questions about the security and treatment of teams traveling across Africa for international matches.