Nigerian footballers have said they will boycott Tuesday's Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) match in Libya after they were stranded at the country's airport overnight in what the team captain called “mind games”.
The Super Eagles were expected to land at Benghazi airport on Sunday, but as the charter flight was descending, it was diverted to Al Abraq, 200km away, with no alternative transport provided, the Nigeria Football Federation said.
Captain William Troost-Ekong said no reason was given for the change, adding that the airport gates were closed and the group was left “without a telephone connection, food or drink. It's all about playing mind games.”
After more than 16 hours there, he said he and the team “decided we are not going to play this match,” adding that “mistakes happen, but these things deliberately have nothing to do with international football.”
He posted another update on Monday evening UK time, saying he was “home safe and sound”, and other social media posts showed them celebrating at Kano airport in northern Nigeria.
The Libyan Football Federation expressed regret at the diversion, but in X suggested it may have been due to “routine air traffic control protocols, security checks or logistical challenges”.
Photos posted online by players show some of them lying on airport seats, with their luggage next to them and no other passengers in sight. In other photos, players were sleeping.
Nigeria star Victor Osimhen, who was ruled out of the match with an injury, had no doubt it was a deliberate move, accusing opponents of trying to “undermine and ruin the morale” of his teammates.
Osimhen compared it to a “hostage situation” on Instagram, advising his colleagues to go home because they are not “criminals or prisoners.”
However, Libya's captain made similar complaints of ill-treatment before Friday's first match in Uyo, which Nigeria won 1-0.
Faisal al Badri said that after their bags were searched and before they were taken by road to the city, they were delayed “from one city to another” by three hours.
“This is not the first time we have been mistreated in Africa,” he said, adding: “We express the need for reciprocity.”
The Nigeria Football Federation has denied the claims.
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The country's sports minister, John Owan Enoh, said he had instructed the football federation to send a formal complaint to the heads of African football authorities, saying in a statement that it should be “taken note of and thoroughly addressed.”
Nigeria's players include Ademola Lookman, who scored a hat-trick for Atalanta in the Europa League final last season and is on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, and Victor Boniface, the striker of German champions Bayer Leverkusen.
Premier League players Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Taiwo Awoniyi and Wilfred Ndidi took part in Friday's match.
