Super Eagles Captain Troost-Ekong speaks on team’s ordeal in Libya

…Super Eagles Captain 

Nigeria's Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, announced the team's withdrawal from their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya due to severe mistreatment upon arrival. 

The squad was stranded at Al Abraq Airport for over 12 hours after their flight was diverted, facing locked gates and lack of food or communication.

Troost-Ekong condemned the situation as disgraceful and called for government intervention. 

The Nigeria Football Federation has also supported the players' decision, emphasizing safety concerns amid ongoing investigations by CAF into the incident.


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 Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.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.”
Share on Google Plus

About Newsmart

0 comments:

Post a Comment