Nigeria has withdrawn from their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya and is returning home, according to their captain, who cited being stranded for hours at an airport far from the match location as the reason for the decision.
The Super Eagles were set to face Libya on Tuesday in Benghazi, where they aimed to secure a qualification spot for the finals in Morocco next year. However, after being delayed for over 16 hours at an airport located 250 km (155 miles) from their destination, the Nigerian team decided not to participate in the match.
“As the captain, along with the team, we have decided that we will not play this game,” stated William Troost-Ekong on X. He added that the team’s charter flight was being fueled for their departure back to Nigeria.
The Nigeria Football Federation explained that the charter flight was diverted to Al Abraq International Airport without any alternative transport provided as the plane was approaching Benghazi.
In response, the Libyan Football Federation expressed that the diversion was unintentional and requested Nigeria’s understanding, noting that their players had also faced travel issues in Nigeria the previous week. They emphasized their respect for Nigeria and denied any allegations of foul play, attributing the issue to routine air traffic procedures or security concerns.
Striker Victor Boniface reported being stuck at the airport for nearly 13 hours without food, Wi-Fi, or a place to rest, remarking, “Africa, we can do better,” on X.
The outcome of the match, including the points, remains uncertain, as the situation will be reviewed by the Confederation of African Football’s disciplinary board. CAF stated they are in contact with officials from both countries and will take appropriate action against any rule violations.
In their last encounter in Uyo, Nigeria won against Libya 1-0, resulting in a total of seven points from three matches in their group. Benin follows with six points, Rwanda has two, and Libya has one. The top two teams in each group will qualify for the 24-team finals.