Nigeria’s Football Team Boycotts AFCON Qualifier in Libya Over Alleged Inhumane Treatment
Nigeria’s football team has chosen to boycott their AFCON 2025 qualifying match against Libya due to alleged inhumane treatment, with players stranded for over 17 hours at an abandoned airport without food or water. Captain William Troost-Ekong led the decision, emphasizing safety concerns and the team’s refusal to travel further to the match venue. The NFF is organizing their safe return, having lodged a formal complaint with CAF, while former footballer Victor Ikpeba advocates for sanctions against Libya.
In a striking decision influenced by allegations of poor treatment, Nigeria’s national football team has opted to boycott their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya. This follows a troubling incident where the players were reportedly held for over 17 hours at an abandoned airport in Libya without access to food or water. As a consequence, the team led by Captain William Troost-Ekong has determined that they will not participate in the match, expressing serious concerns over their safety and well-being. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is in the process of organizing their return to Nigeria prior to the scheduled match on Tuesday, asserting that the players will not undertake the three-hour journey to Benina, the intended venue for the game. Troost-Ekong’s social media posts vividly depicted the team’s distressing situation, indicating that their aircraft was redirected without due explanation and that they were left stranded with no communication or amenities. He emphasized the disgraceful nature of the treatment they received, reflecting an experience that, he noted, was unprecedented in his extensive career. The NFF has formally addressed this matter with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), raising concerns over the implications of such treatment on the integrity of international matches. Meanwhile, former Nigerian football star Victor Ikpeba has voiced support for the boycott, calling for sanctions against Libya, criticizing the decision to allow the country to host international games given its current instability. Nigeria currently leads Group D in the qualifiers, having secured seven points in three matches before taking this decisive stand.
The incident involving the Nigerian football team occurs in the broader context of ongoing challenges faced by teams competing in regions marked by political instability. Libya, still recovering from years of conflict and unrest, presents logistical and safety challenges for visiting teams, raising questions about the suitability of venues for international sports events. Past instances have led to similar concerns within the football community, and this incident reflects a culmination of frustrations over safety and treatment of players, which cannot be overlooked by football governing bodies. Nigeria’s team, known as the Super Eagles, has a history of competing at high levels, and their experiences in Libya underscore the ongoing dialogue about the safety and rights of athletes competing abroad.
In conclusion, Nigeria’s decision to boycott their AFCON qualifier against Libya stems from serious allegations of inhumane treatment of their football team, which included prolonged detention at an unsecure airport without basic necessities. This incident not only highlights the continuous safety concerns for athletes in certain regions but also calls for an urgent response from football authorities regarding the fair treatment of teams. The actions taken by the NFF and the support expressed by former players emphasize the need for safeguarding the welfare of athletes. The implications of such events could prompt reevaluations within CAF about the locations granted hosting rights for international matches.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
