Nigeria’s Super Eagles have safely returned home after enduring a 13-hour ordeal at a Libyan airport ahead of their scheduled 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
The team, which had been stranded in Libya’s Al Abraq airport, has now landed in Kano following the clearance of their flight.
The players and officials were stuck at the airport without basic amenities, sparking outrage after photos of the team sleeping on benches went viral on social media early Monday. The images prompted widespread condemnation from Nigerian authorities, who called out the Libyan government for the ill-treatment of the national team.
Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface, who had shared his frustrations during the ordeal, took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to express his relief, writing:
“Back to Nigeria ❤️❤️ Next of kin you try ooooo.”
See his post below;
https://x.com/boniface_jrn/status/1845869354040119369?t=gSVs9YzyIki_r2i6O9aeFg&s=19
The Super Eagles were scheduled to face Libya in a return leg of the AFCON qualifiers on Tuesday, but the match now faces uncertainty following the team’s decision not to play due to concerns over their safety and the conditions they endured.
Despite the challenges, the team is back home, much to the relief of fans and officials alike.
