AFCON QUALIFIER: Super Eagles Refuse to Play after Maltreatment

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have decided to boycott their African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier against Libya after enduring significant mistreatment upon their arrival in the country. The Nigerian team, including top players like William Troost-Ekong, Wilfred Ndidi, and Taiwo Awoniyi, landed in Libya but had their flight unexpectedly diverted to Al Abraq Airport, a location far from their original destination in Benghazi.

For over 12 hours, the players and officials were stranded at the airport without access to food, water, or proper accommodations. Captain William Troost-Ekong described the incident as “disgraceful,” citing that the Libyan authorities had locked the airport gates and left the team in poor conditions. He emphasized that the team had called for intervention from Nigerian authorities and had collectively resolved not to play under such circumstances.

This boycott follows Libya’s previous complaints of poor treatment when they visited Nigeria for the first leg of the qualifiers, a claim the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) strongly denied. The NFF expressed concerns about the safety and well-being of the players and supported their decision to return home without playing the match.

The boycott has brought attention to the logistical and security challenges African teams face when playing away games, particularly in countries with volatile conditions like Libya​.

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