CAN 2025: Nigeria refuses to play against Libya after hijacked flight

Super Eagles denounce unacceptable conditions

The return match between Libya and Nigeria, scheduled as part of the qualifiers for the 2025 AFCON, may never take place. The cause is an incident that occurred during the Super Eagles’ trip, whose flight was diverted to an abandoned airport in Libya, where players and officials were left to fend for themselves for more than 12 hours.

A chaotic situation for the Nigerian delegation

Nigeria, who were due to face Libya in a crucial match on Tuesday, had a nightmare experience upon their arrival in Libya. After their 1-0 win in the first leg, the Super Eagles were on their way to Benghazi. However, their plane was diverted to a disused airport about two hours from the capital, and the delegation was left stranded without food, internet access and a proper resting place.

On social media, several Nigerian players, including Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface, shared their dismay:

“We have been at the airport for almost 13 hours, no food, no wifi, nowhere to sleep. Africans, we can do better,” he lamented.

Boycott threat launched by players

The situation took an even more dramatic turn when Willian Troost-Ekong, captain of the Super Eagles, threatened to boycott the match, claiming that the Libyan government had cancelled their landing in Benghazi without providing any justification, leaving them in a state of total destabilisation.

“More than 12 hours in an abandoned airport after our plane was hijacked. No food, no drinks, they locked the airport doors,” Troost-Ekong said.

The captain also revealed that only the Tunisian pilot who accompanied them was able to find shelter for the night, while the Nigerian delegation had to sleep on the plane. For Troost-Ekong, this treatment is unacceptable, and he said the team now refuses to play the return leg.

Uncertain future for Libya-Nigeria match

The Super Eagles have called for urgent intervention from the Nigerian government and urged the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to look into the situation. So far, CAF has not responded to the incident, leaving doubts over whether the match will go ahead.

“We have decided that we will NOT play this match. CAF must react, because we will not travel in these conditions. It is too dangerous,” Troost-Ekong added.

Conclusion: A worrying episode for CAN 2025

The incident that hit the Nigerian delegation in Libya raises serious questions about the safety of teams during international competitions. While Nigeria had high ambitions for qualification to the 2025 AFCON, this incident has seriously disrupted the schedule. It remains to be seen whether CAF will take measures to ensure a safer and more transparent environment for the teams involved.