Nigerian forward Victor Boniface has spoken out about the harsh conditions the Super Eagles faced upon their arrival in Libya for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The national team flew to Libya on Sunday, October 13, to prepare for their match against the Mediterranean Knights, scheduled for 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15. However, their trip took an unexpected and difficult turn shortly after landing.
The Super Eagles’ chartered flight, which was meant to land at Benghazi Airport, was unexpectedly diverted to Al Abraq Airport. This smaller airport, primarily used for hajj operations, was not equipped to handle the needs of the team. Upon arrival, the players and officials were left stranded for over 13 hours without assistance from the Libyan Football Federation or local authorities.
According to a statement from the Nigerian Football Federation’s (NFF) communication department, the team received no welcome, food, or transportation to their hotel in Benghazi, which was about a three-hour drive away. The players were exhausted and bewildered, unsure why they had been left in such poor conditions.
Victor Boniface, one of Nigeria’s key players, took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to express his frustration. He tagged the Confederation of African Football (CAF), saying:
“Been at the airport for almost 13 hours, no food, no wifi, nowhere to sleep. Africa, we can do better.”
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong also voiced his dissatisfaction on social media, sharing a message on his Instagram story that highlighted the team’s decision not to play the match due to the poor treatment they had received.
The NFF has since confirmed that they are working on arrangements to fly the Super Eagles back to Nigeria, indicating that the chances of the team honoring Tuesday’s fixture are slim. This comes after Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over Libya in the first leg of the qualifiers, held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Currently, Nigeria tops the 2025 AFCON Group D qualifiers with 7 points from three matches, while Libya sits at the bottom with only 1 point. The disruption to the Super Eagles’ plans has cast doubt on the upcoming match and raised concerns about the handling of visiting teams by host nations in African football competitions.
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