Nigeria threatens to boycott the African Cup qualification in Libya: Discontent over poor conditions at the airport

The Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, is considering boycotting their Africa Cup qualifying match against Libya after the team was stranded for hours at a remote airport due to an unexpected flight diversion. Originally, the Super Eagles were scheduled to play in the Libyan city of Benghazi to secure a crucial spot for the finals in Morocco next year. During the descent to Benghazi, however, the Nigerian team's charter flight was diverted to Al Abraq International Airport, nearly 250 kilometers away, without alternative transport being offered. As a result, the players were stranded for more than twelve hours without food and proper accommodation. Captain William Troost-Ekong expressed his dissatisfaction on the platform X: "This behavior is disgraceful, and together with the team, we have decided not to play this match." This sentiment was echoed by striker Victor Boniface, who also criticized the poor conditions at the airport and noted: "Africa, we can do better." The Libyan Football Federation stated that the diversion of the plane was unintentional and asked the Nigerian guests for understanding. The circumstances were attributed to standard air traffic protocols and logistical challenges, not malicious intent. In the first leg, the Super Eagles secured a 1-0 victory against Libya with a late goal by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and are leading the table with seven points, followed by Benin, Rwanda, and Libya.