October 14, (THEWILL) – The Super Eagles of Nigeria are on their way back to the country, following the country’s decision to boycott their African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya. The team’s return to Nigeria marks the end of a tumultuous episode that highlighted issues in international sports travel and diplomacy.
The Super Eagles found themselves suspicously stranded at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya for about 15 hours. The delay stemmed from complications with flight clearance, absence and an extended wait at the airport without phone connection, food or drinks. Also, there was an official reluctance to provide fuel for their chartered ValueJet aircraft. This situation led to the team’s decision to withdraw from the scheduled Tuesday match, citing concerns over their treatment and safety.
Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar closely monitored the unfolding events and directed Ambassador Stephen Anthony Awuru, head of the Nigerian Mission in Tripoli, to address the immediate needs of the stranded players and staff. The incident prompted diplomatic intervention, with the Nigerian government summoning the Libyan chargé d’affaires to discuss the treatment of the national team.
After intense negotiations and pressure from various quarters, Libyan authorities finally granted clearance for the flight and agreed to provide the necessary aviation fuel. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) stood firm in their demand for direct clearance from Al-Abraq airport to Nigeria, rejecting any intermediate stop at Benghazi as the Libyans preferred.
While this chapter of the ordeal appears to be over, questions remain about the alleged involvement of some Libyan officials in what many perceive as retaliatory actions given the re-routing that was required for the Libyan team in the first leg in Nigeria. There is also the potential for consequences of the match boycott which may have some negligible impact on Nigeria’s AFCON qualifying campaign. The team and Nigerian football authorities will need to address the fallout from this incident, including possible sanctions or rescheduling of the cancelled match.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
