Gusau Pledges to Defend Nigeria’s Honor After Libya Incident
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Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau has vowed to take firm action to protect the country’s dignity and safeguard the welfare of its players following the poor treatment of the Super Eagles in Libya.
The Nigerian team faced harsh conditions upon their arrival for the second leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group D match against Libya’s Mediterranean Knights. After landing on Sunday, the team endured inhumane treatment at the airport.
In a video shared by the Super Eagles’ media team, players and officials were seen stranded at the airport, with their luggage unattended and no assistance provided by Libyan airport authorities, who communicated only in Arabic.
The match was initially set to take place at the 10,000-capacity Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, located near Benghazi. However, the Nigerian team’s plane was unexpectedly diverted to Al Abraq Airport, more than 200 kilometers away from their destination, resulting in a lengthy three-and-a-half-hour journey. The Al Abraq International Airport, typically used for pilgrimage operations, lacked basic facilities, leaving the Nigerian contingent in difficult circumstances.
With no welcoming team or transportation provided by the Libyan Football Federation, the NFF had to arrange alternative travel. The team remained at the airport for over 20 hours without food, water, or internet access. This led to extreme frustration and fatigue, ultimately prompting the Nigerian team to boycott the match.
In an interview with Super Sports, Gusau expressed his frustration:
“We’ve experienced challenges before, but this situation has reached an unacceptable level. Typically, delays in clearance might last a few hours, but to keep us for nearly 20 hours without basic needs is a serious issue.”
He continued, “Our players were stuck without internet, food, or even the chance to freshen up. The trauma they experienced was significant, and that’s why the captain and the players decided they couldn’t go ahead with the game. It was impossible for them to perform at their best after such treatment.”