The Super Eagles of Nigeria found themselves in a troubling situation in Libya as they prepared for their AFCON Qualifier fixture. According to team captain William Troost-Ekong, their plane was diverted from its original destination through government instruction, landing them in an abandoned airport, where they have now been held for over 12 hours without any provisions.
"We have kept our spirit, but these are no conditions we will accept when done on purpose," Troost-Ekong stated, emphasizing the growing concern among the players. Despite the lack of food or rest facilities, the team has maintained their resolve but has firmly expressed that under such conditions, they will not play.
Even their Tunisian pilot faced discrimination, with nearby hotels refusing to accept Nigerian air crew members. "He was told in every nearby hotel they would only accept him and none of the Nigerian air crew members," Troost-Ekong explained. He added that the pilot, who had successfully navigated their aircraft through the diversion to an airport not suitable for their plane, had never witnessed anything like this before.
Troost-Ekong detailed how the pilot attempted to find a place for the team to rest but was repeatedly denied accommodations due to orders from the Libyan government. "They have returned to now sleep on the plane which is parked up," Troost-Ekong said, noting that this forced the Nigerian crew to stay on the aircraft after being denied shelter.
Despite their efforts to remain composed, the situation has deteriorated. The Super Eagles' captain made it clear that the team is now calling on the Nigerian government to intervene. "At this point, we have called for our Nigerian government to intervene and rescue us," he said.
As safety concerns mount, the team has unanimously decided not to continue with the match under these conditions. "We will NOT play this game," Troost-Ekong declared. "We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen, but these things on purpose have nothing to do with international football."
The Nigerian footballers also fear for their safety, stating that traveling by road in Libya is unsafe, and they are wary of the treatment they would receive in hotels or the food provided if they were to stay.
CAF has been urged to investigate and address the matter, but for now, the Super Eagles stand firm in their decision: "Even if they decide to allow this kind of behaviour, let them have the points," Troost-Ekong concluded.