The Super Eagles of Nigeria have finally departed Libya after being stranded at Al Abraq International Airport for more than 15 hours.
The Nigerian national football team had been left in limbo ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya, with players and officials growing increasingly frustrated by the delay.
Captain William Troost-Ekong, who has been vocal about the team’s ordeal on social media, provided updates throughout the long wait. In one of his posts, Troost-Ekong expressed the team’s exasperation, revealing that their plane had been grounded despite having access to fuel.
“Can I shock you?! The pilot has just told us there has been fuel at this airport for the plane all this time. They could have released it but haven’t given us permission since. Can you imagine?! So how long are they planning to hold us hostage here!!! Still just waiting,” Troost-Ekong posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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The Super Eagles’ plight caught the attention of fans and media alike, who rallied support for the team on social platforms. The Nigerian captain later acknowledged the power of this public outcry: “Power of social media. Apparently our plane is being fueled as we speak and we should be leaving to Nigeria shortly. Thanks for everyone’s support!”
The team’s troubles began after their flight which was billed to land in Benghazi was diverted to Al Abaq Airport, about 240km from Benghazi. Upon arriving at Al Abraq Airport, they faced delays with no communication from the Libyan authorities. Troost-Ekong described how, despite their initial complaints, a team bus finally appeared hours after their arrival.
“After our first tweets magically a team bus arrived and a driver who has been standing inside the airport filming us and laughing with some of the other staff since last night said the bus was ready 12 hours after we landed. Now we have been waiting for fuel since morning…”
In a later post, Troost-Ekong criticized the treatment they received from their Libyan hosts, emphasizing that Nigeria would never treat a visiting nation in such a manner. “I REITERATE: We would NEVER treat a guest nation for a game in this way. Mistakes happen, delays happen. But never on purpose!”
This incident isn’t the first time a Nigerian football team has encountered difficulties in Libya. In 2021, Enyimba FC endured similar travel issues when they were stranded in Morocco en route to a CAF Confederation Cup fixture against Libyan club Al Ittihad. A year later, in 2022, Rivers United FC faced a hostile reception in Benghazi when Libyan fans attacked the team, forcing the Nigerians to rely on their own security arrangements.
The repeated incidents have raised concerns about Libya’s capacity to host international teams fairly and safely. As the Super Eagles finally make their way back to Nigeria, questions remain about the integrity of future matches held in the country.
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