SPORTS
Forbes has published the list of highest paid footballers at the moment. Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Inter Miami superstar, Lionel Messi, lead the list.
Despite that Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were in the last days of their careers, they still enjoy superb financial benefits from the round-leather game.
Both players are widely regarded as the two greatest footballers in the history of the game.
Ronaldo is at the top of Forbes latest list, earning a whopping $285m per year.
The 39-year-old earns $220m per-year in wages from Al-Nassr, while the rest comes from sponsorships.
Messi, on the other hand, is the only MLS player in the top ten list.
The Argentinean earns $135m in total, out of which $60m is from wages and $75m is earned from off-field sponsorships.
The list is heavily dominated by players in the Saudi Arabian league.
Others on the list, according to Sportskeeda.com, include Al-Hilal’s Neymar ($110m), Al-Ittihad’s Karim Benzema ($104m) and Al-Nassr’s Sadio Mane ($52m).
Real Madrid duo Kylian Mbappe ($90m) and Vinicius Junior ($55m) are the only representatives from LaLiga.
The Premier League trio of Erling Haaland ($60m), Mohamed Salah ($53m), and Kevin De Bruyne ($39m) complete the list of the 10 best-paid players in the world.
Barcelona reportedly fell victim to a scam during the signing of Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski.
The Spanish club were allegedly tricked into sending €1million (£830,000) to a fraudster, who pretended to be working with the agent of star striker Robert Lewandowski.
Barca signed Lewandowski from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022 for an initial fee of €45m (£37m). The Polish striker has banged in 71 goals in 106 matches for Barcelona since then to prove his worth to the team.
Spanish outlet Cadena SER reported the club had received an email during the transfer, which was claimed to be from the forward's agent Pini Zahavi.
The email is said to have instructed the club to pay a €1million (£830,000) agent's commission, before later making demands for two separate transfers of €250,000 (£208,000).
The €1m payment had been requested to have been paid into the bank account of a lawyer instead of Zahavi, with the email providing details of the account.
Barcelona are said to have paid the fee into a Bank of Cyprus account.
The sum was reported to have been frozen with the payment considered suspicious due to the newly opened account.
Barcelona reportedly came under pressure with another email sent urging them to lobby the bank to unfreeze the payment or risk being reported to football's governing body FIFA.
The bank account was ultimately closed after the bank contacted the club and the alleged scam had been exposed.
Officials from Barcelona acknowledged to Cadena SER they had been deceived and the funds had been recovered.
Zahavi revealed to the same publication that Barcelona had contacted him one month after the transfer to ask whether he had received the payment.
The agent told the club he was unaware of the lawyer and that the email had not been from him.
Barcelona contacted Zahavi again after it was confirmed the email and bank account were unconnected to him.
The Libyan Football Federation is panicking after being asked by CAF to submit documents relating to the cancellation of the AFCON qualifying Group D match against Nigeria after the latter refused to play the match after their plane was diverted to Labraq Airport and held hostage for 18 hours without food and water.
According to Libya Al-Ahrar Channel, the Secretary-General and person in charge of running the body, Nasser Al-Suwaie, confirmed in a special statement to Libya Al-Ahrar that CAF has given the Libyan and Nigerian associations until the 20th of this month to submit the documents related to this file.
Al-Suwaie revealed that the Libya FA has assigned a specialised lawyer to provide evidence, adding that there may be collusion from some parties within the CAF, but the position of the Libyan Federation is strong.
Al-Suwaie added that the Libyan Federation did not change the course of the plane’s landing to Al-Abraq Airport, and the reason for changing the plane’s landing to Al-Abraq was a decision by the Libyan state, and that the sovereignty of the Libyan state must be respected by everyone.
The Super Eagles returned the country on Monday with gory tales of taking turns to sleep on the bare floor of the airport, with the team manager, Patrick Pascal, explaining that the toilet had been deliberately seriously messed up by the Libyan officials in anticipation of their arrival.
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The Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has accused the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately mistreating the Super Eagles during their recent stay in Libya.
The Nigerian players and officials faced a distressing ordeal on Sunday when they were stranded for several hours at a Libyan airport, denied access to food and the internet as they prepared to honor their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights.
The situation raised serious concerns about the treatment of the national team in a foreign country.
Enoh’s comments came two days after the incident during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
He expressed outrage over the conditions faced by the Super Eagles, stating that the conduct of the Libyan Football Federation was unacceptable.
It took considerable diplomatic efforts and social media outcry for the Super Eagles to finally be cleared to leave Libya.
He said, while dismissing allegations by the Libyan side that their players were badly treated during their first encounter in Nigeria, “The Port Harcourt Airport where they arrived is one of our best airports. That Port Harcourt Airport, there is no circumstance that will lead to a team having the footballers lie on the floor.
“All these things were created deliberately to create some make belief. If this was an issue, it should have been made an issue there and then.”
When asked if the Confederation of African Football (CAF) was explicit in the whole saga, the minister did not categorically answer the question.
Rather he said the CAF Secretary General did not allow the NFF President an opportunity for communication.
He decried a situation whereby the CAF did not comment for about 13 hours after the Nigerian players were subjected to that harsh treatment in Libya.
The minister said, “I called the attention of CAF yesterday morning to the fact that when that happened and the NFF was on the ground trying to sort out whatever logistics, the CAF Secretary General didn’t allow the President one minute of continuous contact and pressure.
“Yesterday morning, it was about 12, 13 hours. How come 13 hours after our team is so subjected, there is no indication that CAF is in direct communication with the Libyan Football Federation?
“If there are such two authorities in Libya, does Libya offer a good environment for international matches of this nature to be hosted in the country?”
The Tunisian pilot who flew the Super Eagles of Nigeria to Libya for African Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifying match in Benghazi has said he was ordered by the Libyan government to divert the flight to Al-Abraq Airport, located 150miles away from destination point.
Recall the Super Eagles were billed to have landed at the airport in Benghazi and travelled nearly four hours drive by road to Benina where the match was to be played.
The pilot’s account came on a day the two arms of the National Assembly, the Senate and House of Representatives, flayed the Libyan government for subjecting the Nigerian team to dehumanising treatment, seeking stiff penalties for the Libyan authorities and asking the Federal Government to summon the country’s ambassador.
In a now-viral video, the pilot said the original plan was to land in Benina, a town in the Benghazi area of Libya, with prior approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority, LCAA.
The pilot said, however, that upon beginning descent, he was instructed to divert to Al-Abraq, which was not listed as an alternate airport.
The Tunisian said he was told the order for flight diversion came from “Libya’s highest authorities.”
He said he repeatedly questioned the flight diversion order due to the limitation of aviation fuel but was ignored by Libyan aviation authorities.
“The flight plan was to land in Benghazi, Benina, and we had approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority.
“However, as we began our descent, we were instructed to divert to Al-Abraq, which wasn’t even listed as our alternate airport.
“This decision came from the highest authorities, not me. In aviation, we calculate fuel based on our destination. Diverting unexpectedly can compromise safety.
“Everything is documented. I asked to land in Benghazi as per my flight plan, but they denied it, instructing me to divert immediately.
“I repeatedly questioned the directive and warned them about fuel limitations, but they insisted that we land in Al-Abraq, citing orders from the highest authority.”
Senate calls for probe, stiffer penalties for Libya
Reacting to the development yesterday, the Senate asked the government of Libya to, as a matter of urgency, apologise to Nigeria, while also seeking a probe and stiffer penalties for the Maghreb country as a country following the inhumane treatment they subjected the Super Eagles to upon their arrival for the 2025 AFCON qualifier.
Condemning what it described as unwarranted hostilities and unfair treatment of the Super Eagles, the Senate also asked the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to bring the ugly development to the attention of the Libyan government and the need to exercise restraint, as the act had its negative diplomatic consequences.
It equally asked the Federal Government to report the unsportsmanlike action of the Libyan authorities to the Confederation of African Football, CAF, with a view to apportioning appropriate sanctions on them to forestall recurrence in future.
The Upper Chamber commended the Ministry of Sports and the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, for their prompt response and action by facilitating the safe return of the players.
Resolutions of the Senate, sequel to a motion, titled ‘Ill-treatment of the Nigerian Eagles Football team by the Libyan Authorities and Football Federation at the Al-Abrab Airport, Libya’, sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Ismaila Kawu, NNPP (Kano South), who came under Order 42 of the Senate Standing rules on personal explanation.
In his presentation, Senator Kawu said: “The Senate notes with dismay the ill-treatment meted out on a contingent of the Nigerian Super Eagles in Libya on Sunday, October 13, 2024, an incident which has been reported in the various media platforms across the country.
‘’From information made available by the Nigerian Football Federation’s Director of Communication, it was revealed that the delegation departed from the Aminu Kano International Airport at 13:18 hours on that fateful day in a chartered Value Jet aircraft, ahead of the scheduled second leg of the Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifier against Libya.
“It also notes that upon arrival in Libya, the pilot commenced the initial approach into Benghazi. However, he was instructed by the control tower not to land, in spite of having completed all the required landing papers and formalities before jetting out of Nigeria.
“Consequently, the aircraft was directed to the Al-Abraq International Airport, which lacked the control navigators for landing at such hours, as the said airport is occasionally used for Hajj operations.
“The Senate further notes that in spite of the pilot’s complaint of shortage of fuel, the aircraft was denied access and he was told that the directive came from the ‘highest authorities’.
‘’The actions of the Libyan authorities and football federation did not only endanger the lives of the players but also other members of the delegation, including the deputy governor of Edo State, NFF officials and a couple of parliamentarians.
“This ignoble act is reminiscent of clandestine conspiracy and antic, intentionally orchestrated to frustrate visiting teams in order to weaken their morale and dampen their spirits to the advantage of host country.
“The Senate is aware that the Embassy of Nigeria in Tripoli made arrangements with the authorities in Benghazi to welcome the Nigerian delegation, prior to their arrival, but their application was allegedly and outrightly rejected as the authorities already had a premeditated plan to frustrate our team, ahead of the scheduled match;
“It observes that in spite of series of complaints from the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, and other concerned Nigerians, the Confederation of African Football, CAF, is yet to make an official statement, regarding the matter.
“It also observes that though our team embarked on this patriotic journey to perform an important national assignment to make the country proud, their safety and welfare should be of more paramount consideration to us as a nation.”
In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who presided over plenary, said the manner the players were treated was terrible and condemnable, adding that the action was not in tandem with the spirit of sportsmanship.
Jibrin, who noted that the essence of sports was to promote unity and competition as well as enhance brotherhood among the countries on the continent, said: “The matter was brought under personal explanation by chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Sulaiman Kawu (Kano South).
“What happened to the Super Eagles in Libya is not in tandem with the spirit of sports. The essence of sports is to promote unity and competition and enhance brotherhood among the countries on the continent. The way our players were treated is terrible and condemnable.
“Fortunately, you (Kawu) have come through a personal explanation, and this is what we intended it to do because we don’t want a diplomatic row; we think this is a mistake which the Libyans should be given the chance to correct and apologise to the Federal Government.
“Nigeria is a big country in Africa. We always lead in terms of diplomacy, friendship and everything. Based on that spirit, I am sure you decided that this matter should be treated this way, so we can give their leaders a chance to apologise to our national team.
“We call on the ambassador and whoever is concerned and the authorities to come out and apologise for what they have done to our national team.”
Akpabio decries ill-treatment
Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in a statement yesterday, condemned in very strong terms the inhuman treatment meted out on the Super Eagles by the Libyan authorities.
Akpabio, in the statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, decried the antics and shameful behaviour of the Libyan officials and authorities, saying “This unfortunate incident is a stark reminder of the disregard for human dignity and the lack of respect for international norms.”
He declared that the reported mistreatment of the Super Eagles’ players was unacceptable and a breach of the principles of fair play and sportsmanship that underpinned international football competitions.
The statement reads: “As the President of the Senate, I stand in solidarity with the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and the entire Nigerian football community in condemning this unjust treatment.
“The Senate will continue to monitor this situation closely and ensure that the rights and dignity of our citizens are protected. We will not tolerate any form of mistreatment or disrespect towards our nationals, regardless of the circumstances.
“We demand a thorough investigation from the disciplinary committee of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, and appropriate sanctions to be meted out on those involved.
“It is also imperative that the Libyan authorities take immediate action to investigate this incident and ensure that those responsible are held accountable to prevent future occurrences.
“We call on the international football community to condemn this unacceptable behaviour and support our demand for justice.”
Reps ask FG to summon Libyan ambassador to Nigeria
Similarly, the House of Representatives, in its reaction to the incident, asked the Federal Government to summon the Libya ambassador to Nigeria to explain why the players were maltreated
In a motion sponsored by Kabiru Ahmadu under matters of urgent national importance at the plenary presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abass yesterday, the lawmakers also urged NFF to make an official complaint to the Confederation of African Football, CAF and Federation of International Football Association, FIFA.
Ahmadu recalled that in the Super Eagles contingent were House of Representatives members, led by the Deputy Chairman, Committee on Sports, Deputy Governor of Edo State, members of NFF Board and the entire crew of NFF.
He also recalled that within the 18-hour ordeal faced by the super Eagles at Al-Abraq International Airport in Libya, the contigent was left stranded on arrival at 14:00hrs on Sunday, October 13, 2024, till they were allowed to depart from the airport back to Nigeria almost 20 hours after.
He explained that the team and the delegation were en-route to Benghazi in Libya, before their aircraft was unexpectedly diverted mid-flight to AlAbraq, a small airport typically reserved for hajj operations.
He said it was unfortunate that despite diverting the flight to a small airport with little or no amenities, the Libyan authorities did not allow the team to get out of the airport or move to their hotel, and also denied them access to the internet, food, water, as the airport was cordoned off.
Consequently, the House mandated its committees on sports and foreign affairs to probe the issue and report back accordingly.
I’m still in shock — Eguavoen
In his reaction to the incident, Super Eagles coach, Austin Eguavoen, said he was still in shock over the 20-hour horror faced at the airport in Libya.
Eguavoen, who noted that the team’s experience was tough and too bad for the game, said: “I am still in shock and I have to thank the players for their maturity.
‘’We were locked in a space with so much uncertainty. It was a tough one. We were held hostage.
“Football unites people and nations but I cannot understand why the Libyans behaved that way. It was strange. I thank the government of Nigeria for all the efforts and also the calmness of the players.
“I love the strong mentality of the boys. It would have been nice to come back home with the three points but no match can be played that way. I also thank the Libyans for allowing us to leave because it took a while to convince them.’’
CAF officially puts the Nigeria-Libya match on hold
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football, CAF, declared officially yesterday that the match between Nigeria and Libya would not hold until issues around it were resolved.
The match between both the Super Eagles and The Mediterranean Knights was to have been held at 8 pm last night
In a statement released yesterday, CAF said the case between the two nations “will be referred to the competent CAF bodies.”.
The terse statement read: “The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 qualifier fixture between Libya and Nigeria will not occur as scheduled tonight (last night). The matter will be referred to the competent CAF bodies.”
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has initiated a probe into the shocking mistreatment of Nigeria’s Super Eagles at a Libyan airport.
CAF strongly condemned the lengthy delay faced by the team and coaches, describing it as unacceptable, and has been engaging with Libyan and Nigerian authorities.
The African football governing body said it has escalated the matter to its disciplinary board for thorough investigation.
CAF promised to take decisive action against those found guilty of breaching its rules and regulations.
“The Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) has been in contact with the Libyan and Nigerian authorities after it had been informed that the Nigerian National Football Team (”Super Eagles”) and their technical team were stranded in disturbing conditions for several hours at an airport that they were allegedly instructed to land by the Libyan authorities,” the statement reads.
“The matter has been referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board for investigation and appropriate action will be taken against those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations.”
The Super Eagles team was detained at the Al Abaq airport since Sunday evening, sparking outrage, ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match.
In response to widespread criticism, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the withdrawal of the Super Eagles from the qualifying match on Monday.
The Minister of Sports, John Enoh, has condemned the Libyan authorities’ treatment of the Super Eagles team ahead of its second leg match slated for Tuesday in the country.
The Nigerian contingent, who were billed to land in Benghazi for the second leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya, scheduled for Tuesday, was unexpectedly diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq, a small airport typically reserved for hajj operations.
The unexpected diversion left the players and officials stranded without any assistance from the Libyan Football Federation, which failed to provide transportation.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Monday, Enoh said he had reported the incident to all necessary authorities, adding that the focus was the safety of the senior men’s team.
The minister described the current situation of the Super Eagles as an ‘almost hostage’ situation.
The statement reads, “I strongly condemn the obnoxious treatment meted out to players and officials of the Senior National Team, the Super Eagles, who arrived in Libya yesterday, the 13th of October, for the reverse version of the match played on Friday in Uyo, the AFCON 2025 Group D qualifiers.
“The National Team was en route to Benghazi but was diverted on approach the airport(with very scant attention to their safety) to Al Abaq Airport, which is hours away from Benghazi, where their match is slated to take place.
“All through the night, I have escalated the matter and involved all necessary authorities. From the Foreign Affairs Minister, the National Security Adviser, the DG NIA, Amaju Pinnick, our CAF Executive member. I have also remained in touch with both the president of the NFF, who is on the ground with the team and the Chairman of Value Jet, owners of the plane that airlifted the team to Libya.
“All hands must be on deck to protect our National Team. The Team have succinctly stated that they have been unattended to for upwards of about 15 hrs since arrival, with no food, no accommodation, left in a mosquito-infested environment and cordoned off by Libyan security not to step out of the airport, and they have access to nothing. To say the least, they face an almost ‘hostage’ situation. These are sportsmen set to compete in an AFCON qualifying match come Tuesday!
“For now, our primary concern is the safety of the members of our national team. With the events of the past hours, their safety is not guaranteed, and the team insists they’re unable to go ahead with the match not just because of the trauma and consequent psychological torture but also because of fear for their safety.
The minister stated that he had directed the Nigeria Football Federation President to lay a formal complaint to the Confederation of African Football to take action on the matter.
He said, “As Sports Minister, I have instructed the NFF president to lay a formal complaint to CAF without prejudice to any actions already taken. This must be on record and thoroughly addressed. This morning, I was on a conference call with the CAF President and CAF Secretary General.
“While the CAF President’s concern seems to be what to do to get the national team to participate in tomorrow’s match, I have instead informed CAF that the concern of the Government and people of Nigeria is first, the safety of the team and their safe return, urging that CAF should focus on working with us to achieve this. There must be a serious adverse conseqùence to the Libyan football federation for this unspeakable behaviour.
“This can not be done by insisting that Nigeria still takes part in this match, given the very obvious situation. I strongly condemn the obnoxious treatment meted out to players and officials of the Senior National Team, the Super Eagles, who arrived in Libya yesterday, the 13th of October, for the reverse version of the match played on Friday in Uyo, the AFCON 2025 Group D qualifiers.
“The National Team was en route to Benghazi but was diverted on approach the airport(with very scant attention to their safety), to Al Abaq Airport, which is hours away from Benghazi, where their match is slated to take place.”
Enoh stated that he has escalated the ill-treatment meted out to the Super Eagles by the Libyan authorities since they landed at the Al Abaq Airport on Sunday to all concerned authorities.
He added, “All through the night, I have escalated the matter and involved all necessary authorities. From the Foreign Affairs Minister, the National Security Adviser, the DG NIA, Amaju Pinnick, our CAF Executive member.
“I have also remained in touch with both the president of the NFF, who is on the ground with the team and the Chairman of Value Jet, owners of the plane that airlifted the team to Libya. All hands must be on deck to protect our National Team.
“The Team have succinctly stated that they have been unattended to for upwards of about 15 hrs since arrival, with no food, no accommodation, left in a mosquito-infested environment and cordoned off by Libyan security not to step out of the airport, and they have access to nothing.
“To say the least, they face an almost ‘hostage’ situation. These are sportsmen set to compete in an AFCON qualifying match come Tuesday! For now, our primary concern is the safety of the members of our national team.”
[Punch]
Super Eagles forward, Victor Boniface, has raised his voice after the team were left stranded at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya, ahead Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights.
Blueprint reports that Super Eagles players and officials were stranded at the airport after arriving in Libya on Sunday evening, a development which has prompted the NFF to mull boycotting the game.
Speaking on the incident via his X account on Monday morning, Boniface, a Bayer Leverkusen forward said the Nigerian team have been stranded at the Libyan airport for about 13 hours.
“Been at the airport for almost 13 hours no food no wifi nowhere to sleep. African we can do better,” Boniface wrote.
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Samson Dauda, the Nigerian-born bodybuilder representing the United Kingdom, has been crowned the 2024 Mr. Olympia.
Mr. Olympia is an annual bodybuilding competition and title awarded to the professional men’s bodybuilding contest winner in the open division at Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend. The international bodybuilding competition is sanctioned by the IFBB Professional League.
Dauda made history by winning the 60th Mr. Olympia contest at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada, United States.
He defeated top competitors on Saturday with Hadi Choopan taking the runner-up spot, while 2023 champion Derek Lunsford secured the third position.
Dauda also became the first bodybuilder of Nigerian descent to win the Mr. Olympia competition.
He previously finished third in the 2023 Mr. Olympia. This year, he won the title and was named People’s Champion, receiving a championship belt and trophy.
Former Green Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Fregene, has passed away.
Naija News reports that sad news was announced by his longtime friend and ex-international, Segun Odegbami, on Sunday.
Odegbami revealed that Fregene died peacefully after a prolonged illness, with his wife, Tina, and two of his children by his side.
The football legend, who had been on life support for the past week, finally succumbed to his health challenges, marking the end of an era for Nigerian football.
Earlier this year, Odegbami had publicly sought financial assistance for Fregene’s medical care.
In a statement issued in March, he shared that the former goalkeeper was hospitalized in Sapele, Delta State, and required urgent medical attention.
Although some support was provided, including an ambulance covered by Tony Ojesina, more funds were still needed for further treatment at a teaching hospital.
Odegbami also used the opportunity to highlight the absence of a functional welfare system for retired athletes in Nigeria, lamenting the hardships many face in their later years.
In his update on Sunday, Odegbami expressed his grief, writing, “A few minutes ago, Peter ‘Apo’ Fregene, OLY, former goalkeeper for Nigeria’s Green Eagles, who has been on life support for the past one week, passed on to meet his creator. He died quietly in the presence of his two children and his devoted wife, Tina.”
Fregene’s legacy is well remembered, especially his standout performances for Nigeria’s national team in the 1960s and 70s, including his participation in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.
Known for his incredible reflexes and shot-stopping ability, Fregene earned the nicknames ‘Apo’ and ‘Flying Cat,’ a testament to his agility and skill between the posts.
Tributes have since poured in from across the sports community, honoring his contributions to Nigerian football and his impact on the generations that followed.
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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.
Fourth seed Coco Gauff came from a set and a break down to beat Paula Badosa to reach her first China Open final.
The 20-year-old American dug deep to come through 4-6 6-4 6-2.
Spaniard Badosa, ranked 19th in the world but a former world number two, had looked in a good position when she served at 4-3 up in the second set.
But Gauff broke and rattled off the next four games to set up a decider, eventually wrapping up victory in two hours and 21 minutes.
She will face either unseeded Czech player Karolina Muchova or home favourite and fifth seed Qinwen Zheng in the final.
Badosa, who was as low as 140th in the world rankings in May, came into the semi-final meeting on a good run of form in Beijing which included victory over second seed and US Open finalist Jessica Pegula in the last 16.
And she took advantage of Gauff’s inconsistencies, particularly on her serve which produced 11 double faults, to win the opening set and break in the first game of the second.
Gauff is working with new coach Matt Daly after ending her partnership with Brad Gilbert last month following her fourth-round exit at the US Open, where she was defending her title.
She saved four break points to avoid going 4-1 down in the second set and from then the momentum was with the American, who regained her composure as Badosa dropped her first set of the week.
Gauff broke three times in the decider to seal the win as she bids to add to her only title of the year so far from Auckland in January.
“I tried to stay focused, it was tough but mentally I just tried to reset,” she said.
[Leadership]
Super Eagles’ interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen has hit out at Libya for ‘over-respecting’ his team during both sides’ 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON, qualifier on Friday.
The Mediterranean Knights frustrated Eguavoen’s men with their delay tactics for the majority of the game.
However, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s 86 minutes goal gave the Super Eagles a 1-0 victory over Libya.
Speaking about Libya’s time-wasting, Eguavoen said at his post-match interview: “We have a time keeper also in the name of Thomas.
“Actually they wasted like fourteen, fifteen minutes out of the 45 minutes which is not so good.
“They are a good side. You can see that they move the ball if they wanted to move, but now trying to bring such strategies, I don’t think it’s a good thing.
“Maybe they over-respected us. They thought probably if they come out at the initial stage they are going to get a lot of goals behind them. I don’t know if that is the way they want to play.”
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scored the winner as Nigeria defeated Libya 1-0 in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Friday.
The Group D encounter was a game of missed chances, gamesmanship from the Libyans and poor officiating by the referees but Dele-Bashiru proved the hero the Eagles needed with his late strike.
Coach Austin Eguavoen switched to a 4-3-3 with Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface leading the attack alongside Moses Simon.
The Super Eagles had the first chance of the encounter when the Libya goalkeeper was forced into a save by Alex Iwobi. The team continued to have the upper hand but failed to make it count as William Troost-Ekong, the Eagles captain, fired wide from a rebound, following a save off Frank Onyeka’s shot.
Iwobi was then expertly denied by a point-blank save as both teams went into the interval on level terms.
Iwobi continued to enter the box at the right time but his finishing was abysmal, with the 27-year-old heading high and wide from six yards out before blazing a half-volley wide minutes later as Nigeria probed the Libyans more on the right wing.
The Libyans settled into time-wasting routine but Lookman found the back of the net with a low shot after exchanging passes but he was deemed offside despite replays showing otherwise.
Nigeria scored minutes later when Dele-Bashiru fired into the far corner from centre of the box off Simon’s pass from the wing, leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot while fans celebrated wildly.
The goal ensured Eguavoen’s side secured all three points to put them closer to qualification.
Victory takes Nigeria to seven points on the log from three matches, leading group D at the halfway mark of the qualification series.
The Super Eagles travel to Benghazi to face the Libyans on matchday four on October 15.