Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong has given an update on the situation of things with the Super Eagles in Libya.
In a post on his X handle, he said, “Can I shock you?! the pilot has just told us there has been fuel at this airport for the plane all this time. They could have released it but haven’t given us permission since. Can you imagine?! So how long are they planning to hold us hostage here!!! Still just waiting.
“After our first tweets magically a team bus arrived and a driver who has been standing inside the airport filming us and laughing with some of the other staff since last night said the bus was ready 12 hours after we landed. Now we have been waiting for fuel since morning…
“At this point, I’m even tired of laughing instead of crying.”
Troost-Ekong earlier criticised the shoddy treatment of the Super Eagles by the Libyan authorities after they were ignored at Al Abaq Airport after they landed on Sunday.
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According to him, the senior football men’s team originally scheduled to land in Benghazi ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, was redirected to Al Abaq, where they have been held without explanation.
He described the situation as “disgraceful,” accusing the Libyan authorities of playing “mind games.”
According to him, the team is being kept in an abandoned airport with no access to food, drink, or phone connections.
“12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted whilst descending. The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi without reason. They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without a phone connection, food, or drink. All to play mind games.
“I’ve experienced issues before while playing away in Africa, but this is disgraceful behaviour,” he wrote.
He also lamented the difficulties faced by the Tunisian pilot, who managed the unexpected change in destination but was subsequently refused accommodation for his crew under government orders.
“While the pilot could rest at the airport, Nigerian crew members were not allowed to stay, forcing them to sleep on the plane.
“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 anything like this before,” he wrote.
“Upon arrival, he tried to find a nearby hotel to rest with his crew but was denied at every hotel, again under government instruction. He could sleep there, but no Nigerian crew members were allowed. They have now returned to sleep on the plane, which is parked up,” Troost-Ekong added.
“We will NOT play this game,” he declared, urging the Nigerian government to intervene and rescue the stranded team.
“We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen, but these deliberate actions have nothing to do with international football.”