AfriqueCAN
The Super Eagles have arrived in Nigeria after their ordeal in Libya for a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
Players and officials were stranded for about 13 hours at a Libyan airport ahead of the game which was supposed to take place on Tuesday. Photos of the team sleeping on benches went viral early Monday, prompting condemnation.
But hours later, the team landed in Kano (for a brief stop and headed to Abuja) after Libyan authorities cleared their flight to take off.
“BACK HOME SAFE & SOUND. Proud of this team, NAIJA SPIRIT can’t be broken.
Throw at us what you want, it’s in our blood to overcome,” the team’s captain William Troost-Ekong said on his X handle.
“I’ve seen a lot in my 10 years with this group, but nothing like this, an experience that has brought us even closer TOGETHER.”
Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface said the Super Eagles have returned home.
“Back to Nigeria,” Boniface wrote.
The Nigerian players and officials had landed in the North African country ahead of the match. But after their flight was rerouted from Benghazi where the game was meant to hold.
They were denied access to food and other supplies with some members of the team taking to social media to lament about the incident.
That prompted condemnation across the globe with Nigerian authorities describing the incident as “unfortunate”. The Minister of Sports Development John Enoh likened it to “almost hostage” and said the Super Eagles were no longer taking part in the game.
“To say the least, they face an almost ‘hostage’ situation. These are sportsmen set to compete in an AFCON qualifying match come Tuesday!” he said.
“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.”
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