Aftermath of Unfriendly Reception Treatment: Breaking: Super Eagles Boycott AFCON Qualifier

Unconfirmed reports say Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Monday October 14, 2024 took a unanimous decision to boycott the return leg of the return of Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifier against Libya's Mediterranean Knights.

The development is contained in a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Monday morning.

The Nigerian senior football team decided to opt out of the match scheduled for Tuesday after enduring over 12 hours of horrendous wait at the Al Abaq Airport.

NFF sources explained that Libyan officials refused to clear the entire Nigerian team after landing at the airport, having been diverted from the team's initial airport.

They disclosed that 12 hours after being diverted to the airport, members of the team were left stranded.

“Super Eagles still at Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya," the statement said in part.

“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 statement added that the chartered aircraft that conveyed the team to the North African nation was dangerously diverted from the Benghazi airport to another even as the pilot was completing his landing approach.

“The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport away from Benghazi just as the pilot was completing his approach to the Benghazi Airport. We understand the Al Abraq International Airport is only used for hajj operations. The NFF, the report said, made arrangements for both transportation and accommodation before heading to Libya.

"Federation failed to send any reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, said to be 3 hours away in Benghazi.

“The NFF made arrangements for separate vehicles for the team but the plan was unhinged by the diversion of the aircraft. The federation also decided to lodge in a hotel close to the new airport but we're refused. Officials of hotels approached confessed they were warned not to accept the Nigerian delegation."

One of the hotels reportedly agreed to house the North African borne captain of the chattered aircraft that conveyed the team to Libya. However, the captain refused the offered, choosing instead to sleep inside the aircraft alongside other crew members.

“The NFF was ready to book hotel rooms for players and officials close to the said airport, but we were told by all hotels approached that they have been instructed not to welcome Nigerians.

“Our aircraft crew went searching for hotel rooms, but were told the same thing.

“The captain was offered hotel room because he’s a North African but he turned it down and opted to return with the rest of the crew to the airport and sleep in the aircraft.”

Obviously fatigued from having spent over 10 hours inside the arrival hall, the players allegedly decided to pull out of the second leg tie.

“Fatigued players and officials have remained nonplussed as the host Libyan Football Federation failed to send any reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, said to be 3 hours away in Benghazi. “Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home.”