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Nigeria refuses to play match against Libya due to reports of poor treatment in the country

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The Nigeria national football team, the Super Eagles, were scheduled to play a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Libya but their plane was diverted to Al Abraq International Airport. The team was held at the airport for over 15 hours, with captain William Troost-Ekong describing the situation as "mind games". The players were not provided with food or drink during their delay. The Nigerian government, specifically the Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh, confirmed that the main concern was the safe return of the team. The Nigerian Football Association subsequently decided to fly the team back home, cancelling their match.

  1. LY
    Libyan Football Federation
    1. We have the utmost respect for our Nigerian counterparts and want to reassure them that the diversion of their flight was not intentional.
    2. There are no grounds to accuse the Libyan security teams or the LFF of deliberately orchestrating this incident.
  2. NG
    Ademola Olajire
    Nigeria Football Federation
    1. The players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home.
  3. NG
    John Owan Enoh
    Nigeria Football Federation
    1. The team insists they're unable to go ahead with the match, not just because of the trauma and consequent psychological torture but also because of fear for their safety.
  4. NG
    Promise Efoghe
    Nigeria Football Federation
    1. No Libyan FA official has come to give reasons or provide any clarification.
  5. NG
    William Troost-Ekong
    Super Eagles
    1. They've locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink – all to play mind games.
    2. 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.
    3. As the team captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game.

sources

  1. 1.The Times
  2. 2.BBC
  3. 3.Al Jazeera
  4. 4.Agence France-Presse

perspectives

  1. 1.Soccer
  2. 2.Nigeria-Libya Relations

countries

  1. 1.Côte d'IvoireCI
  2. 2.LibyaLY
  3. 3.NigeriaNG

organizations

  1. 1.Confederation of African Football
  2. 2.Ivorian Football Federation
  3. 3.Super Eagles
  4. 4.Libyan Football FederationLY
  5. 5.Nigeria Football Federation
  6. 6.African Union

persons

  1. 1.William Troost-EkongNG
  2. 2.Ademola OlajireNG
  3. 3.John Owan EnohNG
  4. 4.Patrice Motsepe
  5. 5.Promise EfogheNG
  6. 6.Veron Mosengo-Omba
  7. 7.Victor Osimhen
  8. 8.Victor IkpebaNG

technicals

  1. 1.African Cup Of Nations
  2. 2.Al Abraq International Airport