While the Super Eagles of Nigeria remain stranded for over 14 hours at Al Abraq Airport in Libya, both Ghana and Sudan have arrived smoothly for their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, despite Sudan being forced to play their home match in Libya due to CAF’s disapproval of their stadiums.
Sudan is set to host Ghana at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi, hours before Libya is scheduled to face Nigeria at the same venue. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had previously ruled that no stadiums in Sudan were fit to host international matches, prompting Sudan to hold the game in Benghazi.
The contrasting experiences of the teams have raised questions about inconsistent treatment, sparking frustration within the Nigerian camp.
The Super Eagles, who were set to play the second leg of their AFCON 2025 qualifier against Libya, were unexpectedly diverted to the smaller, lesser-used Al Abraq International Airport, instead of Benghazi. Fatigued and frustrated, the Nigerian delegation spent hours stranded without basic necessities such as food, water, or proper accommodations. Despite efforts by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to secure transportation and lodging, local authorities allegedly blocked their attempts.
Meanwhile, Ghana, who will face Sudan in the same stadium where the Super Eagles were supposed to play, landed smoothly in Benghazi on Sunday. Their flight, which was allowed to land at Benghazi Airport without issue, was greeted with the proper reception, and the team promptly completed entry formalities before heading to their hotel.

Sudan, who are hosting the match against Ghana, also arrived without any hitches on Sunday. The Sudanese contingent was able to land at Benghazi Airport and proceed directly to their accommodations without any reported delays or obstacles, further highlighting the disparity in the treatment of the teams.

For Nigeria, this stark contrast in treatment has raised concerns and left the team questioning the motives behind the situation.
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong voiced his frustration, stating, “I’ve experienced stuff before playing away in Africa, but this is disgraceful behaviour… Even the Tunisian pilot who thankfully managed to navigate the last-minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land had never seen something like this before.”
Following the long ordeal, the Super Eagles have resolved not to play the match due to fatigue and concerns over safety and logistics. “We have called for our Nigerian Government to intervene and rescue us,” Troost-Ekong added in a public statement, noting the severity of the situation.
In sharp contrast, the Ghanaian and Sudanese teams have been able to proceed with their preparations uninterrupted. Both teams arrived at the Benghazi airport and were provided smooth passage to their accommodations.
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