William Troost-Ekong, Super Eagles captain, has announced that the team will boycott the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya.

Troost-Ekong’s announcement via X comes after the team was held at the airport for “over 12 hours” upon arrival in Libya on Sunday for the second leg of their qualifying series, following their 1-0 victory in Uyo, Akwa Ibom on Friday.

In a series of tweets on Monday morning, Troost-Ekong expressed disappointment over the “unfair treatment” meted out to the Nigerian team in Libya.

He said the Eagles “have been held at an abandoned airport in Libya for over 12 hours” after their plane was diverted while descending. He said the players were left stranded without a phone connection, food, or drink.

The Al-Kholood defender also said the Nigerian team was not allowed to enter any hotels following “instructions from the Libyan authorities”.

Troost-Ekong called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to investigate 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 Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.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) said it is making plans 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.

CAF has yet to release an official statement about the situation in Libya.

Libyan authorities appeared to have held the Super Eagles of Nigeria’s travelling contingent following their arrival in the North African country on Sunday.

The flight conveying the team was also diverted from Benghazi, where the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match is expected to take place, to another city.

The Super Eagles defeated Libya 1-0 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium last Friday on matchday three of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.

Both nations are set to meet again on matchday four, with the Nigerian team traveling to Libya on Sunday evening.

But in a video released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Super Eagles players and officials were seen trying to resolve the issue at a Libyan airport.

The airport officials were also seen preventing Nigeria’s contingent access to their destination for the upcoming match, leaving them stranded at the airport.

Airport gate locked.

Libyans. Because of football.

😂😂 pic.twitter.com/rm5tNo2FiW

— Adepoju Tobi Samuel 🇳🇬 (@OgaNlaMedia) October 13, 2024

4+ hours at the Abraq Airport. pic.twitter.com/4XHZCk79RR

— Adepoju Tobi Samuel 🇳🇬 (@OgaNlaMedia) October 13, 2024

Players were seen discussing in groups while their bags were left on the airport floor.

Speaking with journalists, Promise Efoghe, Super Eagles media officer, revealed that the aircraft was redirected to an airport in another city, identified as Al Abaq.

Peter Fregene, the former Green Eagles of Nigeria goalkeeper, is dead.

Segun Odegbami, a close friend of Fregene and ex-international, broke the news in a heartfelt Facebook post on Sunday night.

Odegbami said the Nigerian football legend died in the presence of Tina, his wife, and two of his children after a protracted illness.

The 72-year-old former striker who recently solicited financial assistance for Fregene, 77, expressed gratitude to those who supported the ex-goalkeeper during his illness.

“And the Man died. A few minutes ago, Peter ‘Apo’ Fregene, OLY, former goalkeeper for Nigeria’s Green Eagles, who has been on life-support for the past one week, passed on to meet his Creator,” he wrote.

“He died quietly in the presence of two of his children and his devoted wife, Tina.

“On behalf of all generations of Nigerian footballers, Olympians, sports persons, his family, friends, fans and a few incredible Nigerians that quietly rallied round and, with their support, prayers and the will of the Creator of the Universe, kept him alive until this night, I say a big ‘thank you’.

“Good night ‘Apo’. Rest my friend, rest in peace, finally!”

Popularly known as the ‘Flying Cat’ or ‘Apo’, Fregene was the first-choice goalkeeper for the Nigeria national football team from 1968 to 1971. He was then recalled for the 1982 African Cup of Nations finals. He also represented Nigeria at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.

During a career spanning over two decades — from the 1960s to the 1980s — he won the Nigerian FA Cup with both ECN and Stationery Stores.