Nigeria stars stranded at Libyan airport over 12 hours

Nigerian supporters endured 85 anxious minutes in Uyo against Libya before Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru moved undetected into the box and fired the winning goal past Murad al Woheshi.

The Super Eagles will face Libya again on Tuesday at the Martyrs of February Stadium, with the Libyans eager to bounce back at home. But their desire for revenge is not just about sport.

According to reports in Africa, Nigeria's chartered flight, which was headed to the city of Benghazi, was "diverted to Al-Abraq Airport while it was in the air, with the squad prevented from leaving the airport". As a result, the Nigerian players have been stuck at the airport for more than 12 hours without food and drink.

The Libyans allegedly received "poor treatment" when they travelled to Nigeria for the first leg and now the Libyan government has left the Super Eagles at Al-Abraq airport, two hours from Benghazi, with no phone connection and the airport gates blocked.

"Africa we can do better," wrote Leverkusen star Boniface on social media, calling out the Confederation of African Football for the unfair treatment they are receiving in Libya.

Some internationals have called themselves hostages of the Libyan government, who have told Nigeria and their technical staff that they have stopped to refuel the plane. We will have to wait in the next few hours to see how they transcend at the Libyan airport.

Under caretaker coach Augustin Eguavoen, three-time AFCON champions Nigeria have collected seven points in Group D. Benin have six, Rwanda two and Libya one.

 

October 14, 2024