Stranded for over 15 hours! Nigeria boycott Afcon qualifier in Libya after 'inhumane treatment'

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said it will fly the country's team back to the country on Monday after alleged "inhumane treatment" in Libya ahead of a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

"Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home," said NFF director of communications, Ademola Olajire.

A formal complaint by Nigeria has also been sent to the Confederation of African football (CAF).

The Nigerian team have been held at an abandoned airport in Libya for more than 15 hours since their chartered flight landed on Sunday.

The Nigerian embassy in Libya reportedly cannot intervene as they would need permission to do so from the Libyan government.

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Captain William Troost-Ekong said the team will not play the game and they will not make a three-hour bus ride from Al-Abraq to Benina, where the qualifier was scheduled to be played on Tuesday, for safety reasons.

"As the team captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game," he posted on social media.

"Let them have the points.

"We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security it's not safe. We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us if we continued."

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Former African footballer of the year Victor Ikpeba, who accompanied the team to Libya, has urged for stiff sanctions against Libya and supported the decision to boycott the match.

"If CAF know their job, Libya ought to be banned from international football," he told AFP.

"This is a high-risk country and one really wonders who approved for Libya to be playing their games