The Super Eagles of Nigeria have reportedly been held at the Al Abaq airport in Al Abaq, Libya, ahead of their crucial reverse fixture against the Mediterranean Knights in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Both teams are set to clash on Tuesday, October 15, in Benina.
Nigeria secured a narrow 1-0 victory in the first leg, thanks to an 86th-minute goal by substitute Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who broke the deadlock late in the game.
However, tensions between the two sides have escalated since that match.
Upon arriving in Nigeria for the first leg, the captain of Libya’s Mediterranean Knights, Faisal Al-Badri, expressed frustration with the quality of transportation provided by the Nigeria Football Federation for their journey from Port Harcourt to Uyo.
Al-Badri stated, “The Nigeria Football Federation arranged poor-quality transportation,” highlighting his dissatisfaction.
In response, the NFF claimed that Libyan officials had only informed the Nigerian authorities about their landing in Port Harcourt three hours before their arrival, making it difficult to arrange smoother logistics.
Despite this explanation, Libyan fans were angered by their team’s 1-0 loss in Uyo and have been vocal about seeking revenge in the upcoming fixture, urging their officials to treat the Nigerian team similarly.
The Super Eagles left Nigeria on Sunday afternoon, but the flight was unexpectedly diverted about an hour before landing in Benghazi.
The team found themselves in a city over two hours away from their intended destination, adding to the travel difficulties.
Super Eagles defender Benjamin Taminu reported that the players were stranded at the airport for more than four hours after landing, with no clear communication about their onward journey.
Nigerian sports journalist Tobi Adepoju provided further insight, tweeting that the “airport gate [was] locked because of football.”
This added another layer of frustration for the Nigerian contingent, who still faced a two-hour drive to reach their hotel in Benina.
The atmosphere in Libya is tense, as local fans are demanding retribution for what they perceive as poor treatment during their team’s visit to Nigeria.
The clash between both teams now carries added intensity, not only because of the stakes in the AFCON qualifiers but also due to the rising animosity between the two footballing nations.
As it stands, Nigeria, with seven points, leads their group, while the Benin Republic trails closely behind with six points, making the outcome of this match critical for Nigeria’s AFCON campaign.
