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Airport Nightmare: NFF, Eagles Pull Out Of Libya Clash

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
        Super Eagles stranded at Al Abraq Airport on Sunday

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Super Eagles squad have pulled out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya scheduled to hold on Tuesday.

This followed the inhumane treatment meted to the Super Eagles, who were abandoned at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya for 12 hours. 

News Rider reports that the pictures of the Eagles, who were stranded at the airport since their arrival on Sunday afternoon, flooded the Social Media as the Libyan authorities failed to receive them. 

The Eagles, alongside the Nigerian delegation en route to Benghazi for the qualifying match met their waterloo when the  chartered aircraft was strangely diverted to Al Abraq, a small airport used for hajj operations.

Shortly after their arrival on Sunday, October 13, the team and officials were denied further assistance from the Libyan Football Federation, even as they failed to arrange their transportation to their hotels in line with the rules governing Confederation of African Football (CAF). 

Given the harsh treatment, the NFF and Eagles opted out of the 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya. 

But in a statement on Monday, the NFF lamented that the Super Eagles were stuck in the airport for over 12 hours and were unable to reach their hotel in Benghazi, located three hours from the airport. 

Super Eagles stranded at Al Abraq Airport on Sunday 

The NFF disclosed that the players have decided to withdraw from playing the match and plans are underway to fly them back to Nigeria. 

It reads: "The delegation of Nigeria to Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya still remained at the Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya. 

"The chartered ValueJet aircraft was strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport away from Benghazi, just as the pilot was completing his approach to the Benghazi Airport. 

"We understand the Al Abraq International Airport is only used for hajj operations. Fatigued players and officials have remained nonplussed as the host Libyan Football Federation failed to send any reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, said to be 3 hours away in Benghazi.

"The NFF made arrangements for separate vehicles for the team but the plan was unhinged by the diversion of the aircraft. Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home.”

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