Super Eagles to boycott Libya game after being held hostage at airport

The Nigeria Football  Federation has announced that the Super Eagles will not honour the second leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Nigeria and Libya after they were held hostage at the North African nation’s airport.

“Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home,” the NFF said in a statement on Monday.

According to the NFF, Eagles players and officials of the team have been left with no food, water or internet connection at the Al Abraq Airport for more than 12 hours after their flight earlier scheduled to land at Benghazi airport was diverted to the small airport just one hour before the arrival.

“The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport away from Benghazi just as the pilot was completing his approach to the Benghazi Airport. We understand the Al Abraq International Airport is only used for hajj operations,” the NFF said.

The Libyan Football Federation also failed to provide a reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, which is reportedly three hours away from Tuesday’s match in Benghazi.

The players were forced to sleep on the hard floor of the Al Abraq airport and remained locked inside the compound by security guards.