Following the ongoing situation involving the national team for Nigeria ahead of their AFCON 2025 qualifier against Libya on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, the captain of the Super Eagles, William Troost-Ekong has sent a clear message to CAF indicating that the team representing Nigeria will not be playing the fixture.
He confirmed that due to several antics such as entrapment at the airport, lack of provision of food and water, as well as the basic amenities by the government of Libya in a bid to incapacitate the Nigerian National team ahead of the fixture for Tuesday, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will not play the fixture and have officially sent their appeal to the organisation through the office of the NFF.
His statement on social media read, “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 Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.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. I’ve experienced stuff before playing away in Africa but this is disgraceful behaviour. Even the Tunisian Pilot who thankfully managed to navigate the last minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land had never seen something like this before.”
He went on to add, “Upon arrival he tried to find a nearby airport to rest with his crew to be denied at every hotel again under Government instruction. He could sleep there but NO NIGERIAN crew members allowed. They have returned to now sleep on the plane which is parked up. At this point we have called for our Nigerian Government to intervene and rescue us. As the captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game. CAF should look at the report and what is happening here. Even if they decide to allow.”
“this kind of behaviour, let them have the points. We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security it’s not safe. We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us IF we continued. 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. 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.”
William Troost-Ekong was not the only player to express his discomfort on the whole situation as other players such as Victor Boniface, Bright Osayi-Samuel and even the NFF have all expressed their discomfort on the entire situation.
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