Sports
Libya Ordeal: NFF President, Gusau Pledges To Uphold Nigeria’s Dignity
This commitment follows the mistreatment of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team by Libyan authorities during their recent trip for the second leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group D match against the Mediterranean Knights. Upon their arrival on Sunday, the team faced inhumane conditions.
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In a video shared by the Eagles media team, players and officials were seen stranded at the airport, unable to get assistance from Libyan airport staff, who appeared indifferent and conversed in Arabic.
Originally scheduled to play at the 10,000-capacity Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, just 10 kilometres from Benghazi, their flight was redirected to Al Abraq Airport, which is over 200 kilometres away and a three-and-a-half-hour drive from their intended camp.
The Al Abraq International Airport, primarily used for hajj operations, lacked essential amenities, leaving the players and officials exhausted and frustrated. The Libyan Football Federation failed to provide a welcoming team or transportation, forcing the Nigeria Football Federation to arrange alternative travel.
Trapped at the airport for more than 20 hours without food or water, the Nigerian contingent was cut off from communication, ultimately leading to their decision to boycott the match.
In an interview with Super Sports, Gusau stated, “We have been in this system for quite some time, and there is nothing we have not seen when it comes to this kind of issue, but this one has gone to a certain level that we don’t even know what to say.
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“We can have problems with our clearance and spend five hours when we are supposed to spend two hours; this is normal, but keeping us for almost 20 hours is a big issue.
“They kept our players in a place without internet, without food and water, and they couldn’t even take a shower. You can see the level of trauma that the players went through before some of them started complaining, and that was why the captain and the players decided that they were not going to play. It was practically impossible for them to be at their best before the match.”
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