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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – Nigeria’s soccer players announced Monday they would boycott an African Cup of Nations qualifying match in Libya after being stranded overnight at Al Abraq airport in what the team captain described as “psychological warfare”. did.
However, Libyan authorities denied the charges of sabotage.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to play a drawn second leg on Tuesday. There were similar accusations of sabotage from the Libyan team in the first leg, which Nigeria won 1-0 on Friday.
Team captain William Troost Ekong said the plane was scheduled to land at Benghazi airport but was diverted at the last minute to Al Abraq, about 220 kilometers away.
“The Libyan government canceled our landing permit in Benghazi for no reason,” Troost Ekong said on the X program. “The government locked the airport gates and left us without phone calls, food or drink. All to play mind games.”
“As captain, together with the team, we have decided not to play in this match,” he added.
The Libyan Football Federation said it regretted the diversion of the plane, adding: “Such incidents can occur due to routine air traffic control protocols, security checks and logistical issues that affect international air travel. It is important to note that
Photos posted online by the players also showed them lying on their seats at the airport, with their luggage next to them and no other passengers in sight. By Monday morning, some of them were asleep.
Star striker Victor Osimhen, who was not called up for the match due to a muscular injury, accused the Libyan Football Federation of “deliberate tactics to weaken and undermine the morale” of Nigerian players in an Instagram post. he accused.
“It’s starting to look like a hostage situation,” he wrote, adding, “Our brothers and coaches must return home safely. We are not criminals or prisoners.”
Nigeria’s players include Ademola Lookman, who scored a hat-trick for Atalanta in last season’s Europa League final and is a candidate for the Ballon d’Or, and German champions Bayer Leverkusen’s striker Victor Boniface. Also included.
The team that beat Libya 1-0 on Friday also included Premier League players Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Taiwo Awoniyi and Wilfred Ndidi.
The Libyan team accused their opponents of mistreatment ahead of the first leg, but the Nigeria Football Federation denied the allegations.
Libya captain Faisal al-Badri said they were delayed for three hours “from one city to another” after having their bags checked and before being transported on their journey to the city where the match would be held.
“This is not the first time we are being abused in Africa… (and) we are expressing the need for reciprocity,” Al-Badri said.
Nigeria’s Sports Minister John Owan Enoh said he had directed the football federation to send a formal complaint to the Nigeria Football Association. “This must be documented and thoroughly addressed,” he said in a statement.
(AP writer Steve Douglas also contributed to this story)
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