The Super Eagles of Nigeria have safely returned home after being held at an abandoned airport in Libya for over 15 hours ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had announced that the players, led by captain William Troost-Ekong, refused to play the scheduled match against Libya, citing concerns over their safety. The team also declined a dangerous three-hour bus journey from Al-Abraq to Benina, where the game was set to take place, and instead opted to fly back home.
The NFF has filed a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the mistreatment, calling for action against Libya. Victor Ikpeba, a former African Footballer of the Year who traveled with the team, expressed his outrage, urging CAF to ban Libya from hosting international matches in what he described as a “high-risk” country. Despite the controversy, Nigeria remains at the top of Group D with seven points, while Libya is at the bottom with just one.
