Super Eagles media team on Sunday night confirmed that players and officials of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team were held hostage by Libyan authorities upon their arrival at Al Abaq Airport in Al Abaq, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
In a video posted by the Eagles media team, the players and officials, along with their luggage, were left stranded at the airport, with the Libyan airport officials indifferent to their plight and conversing in Arabic.
The Eagles departed for Libya on Sunday morning, ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matchday 4 clash against the Mediterranean Knights. Initially scheduled to fly into Tripoli and travel by road to Benghazi, the team altered their plans to avoid unnecessary strain. Instead, they chartered a flight with a brief stopover in Kano before continuing to Benghazi. Libya will host the three-time African champions at the 10,000-capacity Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, located just 10 kilometres from Benghazi, but reports emerged that they were diverted to another city.
“About an hour to landing, the Nigerian aircraft approaching its destination, Benghazi, was diverted to another city more than a two-hour drive from the original destination,” the Eagles media team said.
“Libya authorities hold Super Eagles and officials hostage at the Al Abaq airport in Al Abaq.”
Nigeria secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Libya at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday courtesy of a late Fisayo Dele-Bashiru strike. The second leg between the two countries will take place on Tuesday, October 15, with the Eagles hoping to maintain their unbeaten runs.
The Confederation of African Football has appointed Cape Verdean official Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine to referee the match.
He will be assisted by his compatriots Djêry Gomes Lopes and Jorge Santos Fonseca Aritson as assistant referees. Burkina Faso’s Hamidou Diero will serve as the fourth official. Somalian Amir Abdi Hassan has been named match commissioner, while Malian Dramane Dante will act as the referee assessor. The security of the event will be overseen by Algerian official Rachid Medjiba.