The Super Eagles, Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team, faced an unexpected ordeal on Sunday when Libyan authorities detained the players and officials at Al Abaq Airport. According to reports from PUNCH Sports Extra, the team was stranded upon arrival in Al Abaq, with no assistance from Libyan officials, who communicated solely in Arabic, disregarding the Nigerian delegation’s concerns.
A video shared by the Super Eagles media team showed the players and officials, alongside their luggage, left helpless at the airport, with no clarity on why they were being held. The team had flown into Libya for their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against the Mediterranean Knights, scheduled for Tuesday, October 15.
Initially, the Nigerian squad had planned to land in Tripoli and make a road trip to Benghazi. However, in a bid to reduce fatigue, they opted for a direct chartered flight, with a brief stop in Kano. The team was en route to Benghazi when the aircraft was unexpectedly diverted, landing in Al Abaq, a city over two hours away from their intended destination.
In a statement from the Super Eagles media team, they explained, “About an hour to landing, the Nigerian aircraft approaching its destination, Benghazi, was diverted to another city more than a two-hour drive from the original destination. Libya authorities hold Super Eagles and officials hostage at the Al Abaq airport in Al Abaq.”
The dramatic incident comes just days after Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Libya in the first leg of their AFCON qualifier, held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s late strike sealed the victory for the three-time African champions. With the second leg looming, the Super Eagles aim to maintain their momentum and secure another crucial win in their quest for qualification.
As the tension builds ahead of Tuesday’s clash, Cape Verdean referee Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine will officiate the match, assisted by fellow Cape Verdeans Djêry Gomes Lopes and Jorge Santos Fonseca Aritson. The fourth official will be Burkina Faso’s Hamidou Diero, while Somali official Amir Abdi Hassan has been named match commissioner. Security at the event will be managed by Algerian official Rachid Medjiba, with Malian Dramane Dante serving as the referee assessor.
The Super Eagles now await further instructions on their travel arrangements, hoping to arrive in Benghazi in time for the match. Fans across Nigeria are anxious for updates as the team navigates this unexpected setback in their AFCON journey.
