Nigerian soccer team stranded in airport before international match, alleges ‘mind games’

The Nigerian men’s soccer team had a bad day on Sunday without playing a match.

The squad said on social media that they were stranded at Libya’s Al Abraq International Airport for 14 hours on their way to a match in Benghazi.

The Super Eagles were scheduled to face the Libyan squad on Tuesday in a qualifier for the Africa Cup of Nations. 

“Our plane was diverted whilst descending. Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason,” team captain William Troost-Ekong wrote on X. “They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games.”

Players posted photos on social media as they made the most of the situation, sleeping in chairs and on their luggage. 

Troost-Ekong noted that the squad would skip their match after the travel debacle.

“Let them have the points,” he wrote, noting that the team wouldn’t feel comfortable traveling on a bus. “We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen but these things on purpose have nothing to do with int. football.”

The Libyan Football Federation denied any wrongdoing.

“We have the utmost respect for our Nigerian counterparts and want to reassure them that the diversion of their flight was not intentional,” the federation said in a statement. “We firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation. We hope that this misunderstanding can be resolved with understanding and goodwill.”

The Nigerian squad flew home on Monday after a 14-hour wait. 

Nigeria beat Libya 1-0 on Friday to take a commanding lead with seven points in Group D. Libya, with one point, is last in the group.