Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has expressed his outrage over the unfair treatment the Nigerian team has faced in Libya, revealing that the squad has agreed to boycott their upcoming match. This revelation comes after Nigeria’s narrow 1-0 victory over Libya at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, where a late goal from Ayodele-Bashiru secured the win.
After arriving in Libya for the away game scheduled for October 15 at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi, the Super Eagles encountered significant obstacles at the airport. Troost-Ekong reported that the team was held back by Libyan authorities, unable to leave the airport, and were still stranded at the time of his statement.
The captain highlighted that the team’s plane had been diverted to an airport unsuitable for landing, requiring them to undertake a two-hour road trip to their intended destination. Additionally, the Nigerian team was denied entry to hotels under the directives of the Libyan government, leading to frustration among the players.
Troost-Ekong took to his official X account to share the team’s ordeal, stating, “More than twelve hours in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted whilst descending. The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi without reason. They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food, or drink. All to play mind games.”
He continued, “I’ve experienced issues before playing away in Africa, but this is disgraceful behavior. Even the Tunisian pilot, who navigated the last-minute change, had never seen anything like this. Upon arrival, he tried to find a nearby airport to rest but was denied at every hotel under government instructions.”
Troost-Ekong stated that the Super Eagles, in consultation with the team, have decided they will not participate in the match against Libya. He called for the Nigerian government to intervene and emphasized the risks associated with traveling on the roads in Libya, even with security arrangements.
“We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen, but these deliberate actions have nothing to do with international football,” he concluded.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yet to respond to the situation, and it remains uncertain whether any repercussions will be imposed on the Libyan side for their treatment of the Nigerian team or for Nigeria’s decision to refuse to play.