Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has declared that the team will boycott the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya.
Gatekeepers News reports that the decision comes after the team was held at the airport for more than 12 hours upon their arrival in Libya.
Troost-Ekong expressed disappointment over the “unfair treatment” the Nigerian team experienced in Libya, citing being stranded at an abandoned airport without access to communication, food, or drink. Also, the team was reportedly not allowed to enter any hotels as per instructions from the Libyan authorities.
Troost-Ekong has called for an investigation by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) into the incident.
Read the full statement below:
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 Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.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.
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.
Similarly, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said plans are underway to fly the team back home.
“Players have resolved not to play the match any longer, and NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home,” a statement from the federation reads in part.
As of the time of this report, CAF has yet to release an official statement about the situation in Libya.
