In a stark contrast during the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, Libya warmly welcomed Ghana’s Black Stars while the Nigerian Super Eagles faced significant challenges upon their arrival. The situation has raised eyebrows within the footballing community, as both teams were set to compete in crucial matches in Libya on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
Ghana’s Black Stars landed smoothly in Benghazi, preparing for their match against Sudan at the Martyrs of February Stadium. In contrast, the Super Eagles encountered unexpected difficulties when their flight was diverted just an hour before landing in Benghazi, leaving them stranded at an airport 240 kilometers away.
Nigerian team spokesman Promise Efoghe explained the confusion, stating, “About an hour to landing, the Nigerian aircraft approaching Benghazi was diverted to another city more than a two-hour drive from the original destination.” This disruption meant that the team faced an arduous journey from Al Abraq Airport to their intended destination.
While the Super Eagles grappled with these logistical issues, local media reported a “technical failure in the airport system” as the reason for the diversion. Interestingly, this supposed technical problem did not affect Ghana or Sudan, both of whom landed in Benghazi without incident and were processed through immigration smoothly.
As the hours passed with no resolution, the Nigeria Football Federation took decisive action, announcing that the Super Eagles would withdraw from their scheduled match against Libya. The federation stated that the team would leave Libya without playing the fixture, expressing dissatisfaction with the handling of their situation.
Meanwhile, the match between Ghana and Sudan remains unaffected, with the Black Stars preparing for their showdown at 2 p.m. While Nigeria’s withdrawal leaves a significant gap in the qualifiers, the contrasting experiences of the two teams serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of international football logistics.