Nigeria’s national team players were set to face Libya in their 4th round AFCON match, having previously beaten Libya 1-0 at home. However, after being stranded at a Libyan airport for a day, they announced their decision to boycott the match.
Their flight, which was scheduled to land in Benghazi, was instead diverted to Al Abraq, located 230 km away. Nigeria’s national team captain, William Troost-Ekong, described the incident as psychological warfare and an unethical act, urging the government to take action. The players’ clubs have stepped in to offer support.
The Libyan side had previously reported facing a similar situation during the reverse fixture, though the Nigeria Football Federation denied these claims. Captain Troost-Ekong explained that traveling to the match by road is highly dangerous due to security concerns.
Considering all these factors, it seems Nigeria will not play the match against Libya. It’s disheartening to see such incidents occurring in sports, which are meant to foster friendship. Hopefully, the authorities will take steps to resolve this issue as soon as possible.