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 Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.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.

Samson Dauda, the Nigerian-born bodybuilder representing the United Kingdom, has been crowned the 2024 Mr. Olympia.

Mr. Olympia is an annual bodybuilding competition and title awarded to the professional men’s bodybuilding contest winner in the open division at Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend. The international bodybuilding competition is sanctioned by the IFBB Professional League.

Dauda made history by winning the 60th Mr. Olympia contest at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada, United States.

He defeated top competitors on Saturday with Hadi Choopan taking the runner-up spot, while 2023 champion Derek Lunsford secured the third position.

Dauda also became the first bodybuilder of Nigerian descent to win the Mr. Olympia competition.

He previously finished third in the 2023 Mr. Olympia. This year, he won the title and was named People’s Champion, receiving a championship belt and trophy.

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.