Nigerian football team captain William Troost-Ekong announces the Super Eagles' decision to boycott their AFCON 2025 qualifier in Libya due to alleged mistreatment. The team faced extended delays, restricted access to food, and lack of accommodations after landing at an unsuitable airport. CAF response remains pending.
Nigerian footballer William Troost-Ekong, captain of the Super Eagles, announced that the team will not play their scheduled AFCON 2025 qualifier in Libya, following their alleged mistreatment upon arrival. After their 1-0 home victory against Libya, the Super Eagles traveled to Benghazi for the away game. However, they were diverted to a different airport deemed unfit for landing, resulting in an unexpected and extended delay.
Troost-Ekong described the situation as “disgraceful,” citing that the team was detained at the airport without food, water, or phone access and that their landing permissions were suddenly revoked by Libyan authorities. Further exacerbating the issue, the team was reportedly denied entry to any nearby hotels, forcing the crew to sleep on the plane.
Troost-Ekong voiced his frustration on social media, explaining that the team felt unsafe and disrespected, and called upon the Nigerian government to intervene. He stated that the team is prepared to forfeit the match rather than proceed under these conditions, stressing the importance of player safety and fairness in international football.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yet to respond to the incident, and it remains uncertain what actions, if any, will be taken against Libya or if Nigeria will face repercussions for choosing not to participate in the match. The situation has drawn significant attention, with Nigerian fans and the broader football community expressing support for the team’s stance on social media.
