The AFCON qualifier between Libya and Nigeria scheduled for Tuesday is under serious doubt since the Super Eagles are facing a horrible time stranded at the Al-Abraq airport. According to exhausted Nigerian players, they’re “held there as hostages” with no food or drink just over 24 hours before the kick-off.Al-Abraq Airport is about four hours away from Benghazi and the Nigeria squad was left stranded for hours, with several players making staggering claims of mistreatment. The team’s captain, William Troost-Ekong, took to X to show his rage: “12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted whilst descending. The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi for no reason. They locked the airport gates and left us without a phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games.”I’ve experienced stuff before playing away in Africa, but this is disgraceful behaviour. Even the Tunisian Pilot, who thankfully managed to navigate the last-minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land, had never seen something like this before,” added Troost Ekong.pic.twitter.com/UrMAawFdQb— William Troost-Ekong (M.O.N) (@WTroostEkong) October 14, 2024 He says that they have called their government to intervene and rescue them.”As the captain, together with the team, we have decided that we will NOT play this game. CAF should look at the report and what is happening here. Even if they decide to allow this kind of behaviour, let them have the points. We will not accept travelling anywhere by road here, even with security, as it’s not safe. We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us IF we continued.”We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen, but these things on purpose have nothing to do with international football,” concluded he.##NAJAVA_MECA_8412329##Wilfred Ndidi also shared his resentment on Instagram:”This is not football. Very embarrassing. Hostage to a national team. Disgrace.”Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface reacted, too…”Been at the airport for almost 13 hours, no food, no wifi, nowhere to sleep. Africa, we can do better.”Been at the airport for almost 13 hours no food no wifi no where to sleep African we can do better @caf— Victor Boniface (@boniface_jrn) October 14, 2024 Although not with the team, Victor Osimhen also expressed his anger at the situation.”I am disappointed by the unfair treatment my brothers and coaches are facing at the Libya airport last night,” he wrote on Instagram. “Actions like this go against the spirit of sportsmanship. My support is with my team, and I know they’ll stay strong despite these obstacles. I call on CAF (Confederation of African Football) to intervene, as my teammates and officials are still stranded at the airport in Libya. This is uncalled for and inhumane. We stand together, stronger than ever.”Nigeria defeated Libya 1-0 on Friday, but the visitors complained about ‘poor treatment’ surrounding that game. Ahead of the reverse fixture, they obviously wanted to take revenge, but this is not acceptable.AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS – QUALIFIERSMonday 16.00: (4.60) Kenya (3.40) Cameroon (1.85)17.00: (2.25) Gambia (3.15) Madagascar (3.45)19.00: (3.50) Liberia (2.85) Equatorial Guinea (2.25)19.00: (4.90) Togo (3.45) Algeria (1.70)19.00: (2.80) Zimbabwe (2.60) Namibia (3.15)22.00: (4.60) Eswatini (3.40) Mozambique (1.85)Tuesday 16.00: (5.00) Chad (3.50) Zambia (1.75)16.00: (6.50) Lesotho (3.60) Gabon (1.60)16.00: (13.0) Malawi (5.70) Senegal (1.25)16.00: (6.25) South Sudan (3.50) Uganda (1.63)16.00: (4.80) Sudan (3.30) Ghana (1.75)16.00: (4.20) Tanzania (3.20) Dr Congo (2.00)19.00: (4.10) Botswana (3.15) Cape Verde (2.05)19.00: (5.50) Congo (3.50) S.Africa (1.70)19.00: (4.40) Guinea B. (3.35) Mali (1.90)19.00: (6.75) Mauritania (3.70) Egypt (1.58)19.00: (5.30) Niger (3.50) Angola (1.73)19.00: (2.95) Rwanda (3.00) Benin (2.65)19.00: (15.0) Sierra Leone (5.90) Ivory Coast (1.23)22.00: (19.0) Cental African Republic (9.50) Morocco (1.12)22.00: (5.50) Comores (3.50) Tunisia (1.70)22.00: (7.75) Ethiopia (3.90) Guinea (1.50)22.00: (8.00) Libya (4.20) Nigeria (1.45)***odds are subject to change***
