The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has released an official statement addressing the unexpected airport delay faced by the Super Eagles in Libya ahead of their AFCON 2025 qualifiers. The match, Libya vs Nigeria, was scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, 2024, but the team has been stranded at Al Abraq Airport for over 12 hours, raising concerns about their participation in the crucial AFCON Group D fixture.
The shocking turn of events has prompted the NFF to declare that the Super Eagles will no longer participate in the match, and efforts are being made to return the players to Nigeria safely. The NFF’s statement, released in the early hours of Monday, October 14, 2024, highlighted the team’s exhaustion and the failure of the Libyan Football Federation to provide proper reception or transport.
According to the NFF, the Super Eagles’ chartered ValueJet flight was rerouted in a dangerous and unexpected manner, diverting them to Al Abraq International Airport, a small airport primarily used for hajj operations. The flight was originally intended to land at Benghazi Airport, but the change occurred just as the plane was approaching its destination. The players and officials were left stranded with no transportation, internet access, or even a place to rest.
The NFF arranged for separate vehicles to transport the team to Benghazi, but the aircraft’s diversion unhinged the plans. The exhausted players have now resolved not to play the match as the NFF is working on returning them home.
NFF STATEMENT
Super Eagles still at Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya!
The delegation of Nigeria to Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya still remained at the Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya.
The chartered ValueJet aircraft was,…
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) October 14, 2024
Meanwhile, tensions between the two football federations have escalated. Libyan players have voiced dissatisfaction with their treatment in Nigeria following their 1-0 loss to the Super Eagles in the previous AFCON 2025 qualifier, where Fisayo Dele-Bashiru secured the winning goal.
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