The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been held hostage at the Al Abaq airport in Al Abaq by Libyan authorities.
Both teams are billed to clash in a reverse fixture at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations billed for Tuesday, October 15, in Benina.
Nigeria won the first leg 1-0 courtesy of an 86th-minute strike by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who came off the bench to break the deadlock.
But upon their arrival in Nigeria, the captain of the Mediterranean Knights, Faisal Al-Badri, lamented that the Nigeria Football Federation arranged poor-quality transportation as they journeyed from Port Harcourt to Uyo for the first leg.
However, the NFF claimed that Libyan officials only informed Nigerian authorities that they were landing in Port Harcourt just three hours before their arrival.
After their 1-0 loss in Uyo, Libyan fans agitated for revenge, urging their officials to treat the Nigerian team the same way.
The Super Eagles departed Nigeria on Sunday afternoon, and about an hour before landing in Benghazi, the flight was diverted to another city, which is more than two hours drive from the original destination, Vanguard reports....Read Full Article [Click Here>]
JUST IN : Libyan authorities hold Super Eagles, officials hostage at the Al Abaq airport in Al Abaq.
About an hour to landing, the Nigerian aircraft approaching its destination, Benghazi was diverted to another city more than two hour drive from the original destination. pic.twitter.com/04hCpJN96M
— Ojora Babatunde (@ojbsports) October 13, 2024
Super Eagles defender Benjamin Taminu disclosed that the players were still at the airport four hours after their arrival. Nigerian journalist Tobi Adepoju added that “airport gate locked because of football”.
It will take the team another two hours before they reach their hotel in Benina.