AFCON QUALIFIER: WE WERE TREATED LIKE REFUGEES - SUPER EAGLES OFFICIAL (VIDEOS & PICTURES)

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As members of the Super Eagles arrive back in Nigeria after the botched African Cup of Nations Qualifiers in Libya, an official of the team has lamented the poor treatment meted out to the team.

The team arrived in Kano on Monday evening and are waiting to be moved to Abuja, and later Lagos.

While speaking with Hotjist.com, the officials stated that treatment suffered by players and officials of the Super Eagles can be likened to what refugees are made to go go through.

“Our flight was directed to Al-Abraq, which is five hours away from the capital city of Bengazi. There was no official to receive us. Communication was difficult, we couldn’t reach the outside world.

“Someone had to give us internet data in order to communicate.We were left unattended to for at least thirteen hours. Players and officials had to sleep on the airport seats.

“The Libyan officials later brought mini-buses in an attempt to move the team and officials to Benghazi. We objected to this arrangement because of safety, security and well-being of the whole team.

“In the prevailing circumstances, the team didn’t have a choice than to opt out of the Qualifiers with the national team of Libya”

Earlier, the Super Eagles’ ValueJet charter flight was abruptly rerouted from Benghazi Airport to the smaller Al Abraq International Airport in Libya for their qualifier versus the host country.

The Nigerian team’s unanticipated delays in Libya for the AFCON 2025 qualification have sparked outrage over the mistreatment by the country’s officials.

Expressing his frustration on X on Monday, striker Victor Boniface wrote, “Been at the airport for almost 13 hours, no food, no Wi-Fi, nowhere to sleep. Africa, we can do better.”

The detour happened as the pilot was finishing his approach to Benghazi, the Nigeria Football Federation said in a statement on Monday.

Despite preparations, the sudden shift left officials and players stranded without any transportation or welcome from the host Libyan Football Federation.

The distraction interfered with the team’s intentions to be taken to their accommodation in Benghazi, which was about three hours away.

The NFF statement added, “Fatigued players and officials have remained nonplussed as the host Libyan Football Federation failed to send any reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, which is said to be three hours away in Benghazi.

“The NFF made arrangements for separate vehicles for the team, but the plan was unhinged by the diversion of the aircraft.

“Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home.”

Also, team captain, William Troost-Ekong characterised the scenario as “disgraceful” and accused the Libyan government of engaging in “mind games” in a series of tweets sent early on Monday morning.

He claimed that the squad is being housed in an abandoned airfield with no phone connections, food, or drink available.

“12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted whilst descending. The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi without reason. They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without a phone connection, food, or drink. All to play mind games.

“I’ve experienced issues before while playing away in Africa, but this is disgraceful behaviour,” he wrote.