The Super Eagles’ flight to Benghazi for the second leg against Libya has been diverted.
An early Monday press release from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stated that:
” The delegation of Nigeria to Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya still remained at the Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya.
The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport away from Benghazi just as the pilot was completing his approach to the Benghazi Airport. We understand the Al Abraq International Airport is only used for hajj operations.
Fatigued players and officials have remained nonplussed as the host Libyan Football Federation failed to send any reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, said to be 3 hours away in Benghazi.
The NFF made arrangements for separate vehicles for the team but the plan was unhinged by the diversion of the aircraft.
Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home.”
On Friday, Nigeria beat Mediterranean Knights 1-0 in the first leg of their AFCON 2025 qualifier in Uyo. Before the match, the Libyan team filed a complaint with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) alleging they were mistreated on arrival in the country. Team captain Faisal Al Badri expressed his dissatisfaction with the NFF and demanded a response from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
However, the Nigerian Football Federation has dismissed Libyan captain Faisal Al Badri’s claim that he was mistreated on arrival in Nigeria. NFF Deputy Director General (Protocol), Emmanuel Ayanbunmi, said the Libyan Football Federation informed them just three hours before their arrival on Tuesday that the team would be arriving in Port Harcourt instead of Uyo. After their win in Uyo, the Super Eagles will face the Mediterranean Knights in the second leg at the Benina Stadium.
The Nigerian national team left the country on Sunday, October 13 for the second leg against Libya. However, just an hour before landing in Benghazi, the Nigerian Air flight diverted from its original planned destination to another city, more than two hours’ drive away.
Numerous videos flying across social medias shared with betgenuine.com by the Super Eagles media team shows the Super Eagles players stranded at the airport while team officials hold talks with the Libyan police and other officials.
With qualification for the AFCON tournament at stake, the outcome of the match between Nigeria and Libya is crucial. A win for Nigeria could see them qualify for the biennial tournament in Morocco, while a loss would shatter Libya’s dreams. Nigeria currently top the group with seven points, while Libya lies bottom of the table with only one point from three matches.
