The Nigeria national team squad are shortly due to fly back home from Libya after being left stranded in an airport for over 16 hours ahead of their scheduled Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Benina on Tuesday night, defender William Troost-Ekong has confirmed.
Serie A players Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru of Atalanta, Milan and Lazio are among the players out on international duty with Nigeria.
The Super Eagles had been due to play away against Libya in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday evening, but the players have since called for the game to be cancelled after being left stranded for over 16 hours, reportedly without food or water.
The aircraft carrying the players, coaching staff and travelling delegation was diverted, and eventually landed in an airport three hours away from their final destination.
Nigeria squad to return home after airport incident
Several players, including Troost-Ekong and Victor Boniface have been documenting the events on social media. Some of the players have alleged that this wasn’t an accident, rather that it was an act of ‘mind games’.
Napoli-owned Victor Osimhen, who is not part of the travelling squad, said that the situation was ‘beginning to look more like a hostage situation’.
Former Udinese defender Troost-Ekong explained on social media that the players are now due to return to Nigeria imminently, following an appeal on social media.
“Power of social media,” he wrote on X. “Apparently our plane is being fueled as we speak and we should be leaving to Nigeria shortly. Thanks for everyone’s support!”
12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Lybia after our plane was diverted whilst descending. Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason. They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games.
— William Troost-Ekong (M.O.N) (@WTroostEkong) October 14, 2024