Super Eagles still stuck at Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya

14.10.2024 - 21:51 guardian.ng

The Nigerian delegation for Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya remains stranded at Al Abraq Airport, 12 hours after their arrival.

The Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire, stated on Monday morning that they understand Al Abraq International Airport is typically used only for hajj operations.

According to the statement, the chartered ValueJet flight was unexpectedly diverted to the smaller airport as the pilot was approaching Benghazi.

The statement continued: “Fatigued players and officials have remained nonplussed as the host Libyan Football Federation failed to send any reception team or vehicles to transport the delegation to their hotel, reportedly three hours away in Benghazi. “The NFF had arranged separate vehicles for the team, but this plan was disrupted by the aircraft’s diversion. “Players have now resolved not to play the match, while NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home.” The NFF also disclosed that efforts to secure accommodations near the airport were unsuccessful, as local hotels were allegedly instructed not to accept Nigerians.

Super Eagles NFF county Eagle Nigeria Libya

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Despite their inability to play in the last round of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series following CAF’s decision to call off their game against Libya, the Super Eagles have moved up three places in the latest FIFA rankings. In the October World ranking released, yesterday, by FIFA, the team moved to the 36th position from the previous 39th, gaining 1,503.29 points within the period under review. The Super Eagles defeated Libya 1-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo, on October 11, but the return leg of the tie scheduled for Benghazi, Libya on October 15 was called off following the Libyans’ alleged ill-treatment of the Nigerian delegation two days before the game. African football governing body, CAF is expected to rule on the botched game this week. Nigeria’s new FIFA ranking also reflects on the Super Eagles’ position in Africa, as they are now the fourth-best team in the continent, up from last month’s sixth position. Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt are the three leading teams in that order. Argentina, France (second), and Spain (third) are still the leading teams in the world, followed by England (fourth), Brazil (fifth) and Belgium (sixth).

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The Nigerian delegation to the aborted Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya returned to the country yesterday with tales of woe. This is as the country’s football authorities, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), as well as, the entire country await the continent’s football governing body, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to make a pronouncement over the alleged beastial treatment meted to the Nigerian contingent, by Libyan authorities.

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