CurrentReport Blog Captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, William Troost-Ekong, has confirmed that the team is set to return to Nigeria following the poor treatment they received from Libyan authorities at Al Abaq Airport. The team had been stranded at the airport after arriving in Libya on Sunday for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matchday four clash against the Mediterranean Knights.
Troost-Ekong and his teammates, frustrated by the delay, initially considered boycotting the match scheduled for Tuesday. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) also sent a formal protest to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the situation.
Providing an update on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday afternoon, Troost-Ekong announced that their plane was being refueled and that the team would soon be returning to Nigeria. He expressed gratitude for the support they received, saying:
“Power of social media. Apparently, our plane is being fueled as we speak and we should be leaving to Nigeria shortly. Thanks for everyone’s support!”
He also reiterated that Nigeria would never treat a visiting team in such a manner, emphasizing that while mistakes and delays can happen, they should never be intentional: “We would NEVER treat a guest nation for a game in this way. Mistakes happen, delays happen. But never on purpose!”
The Super Eagles’ return to Nigeria follows a challenging trip marred by logistical issues and diplomatic tension ahead of their crucial AFCON qualifying match.
