Nigeria’s nationwide soccer group has returned to their nation dancing and singing after boycotting their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Libya.
It got here after they had been stranded in a single day at Al Abraq Airport in what the group captain described as “thoughts video games”.
Authorities in Libya denied it was sabotage, however the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) stated it will examine the “disturbing and unacceptable experiences” of Nigeria.
The Tremendous Eagles had been scheduled to play the Group D recreation on Tuesday (Wednesday morning AEDT). Nigeria received 1-0 when the groups performed on Friday, when comparable accusations of sabotage from the Libya group got here after they had been delayed at a Nigerian airport.
Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong stated the aircraft was resulting from land at Benghazi Airport however was diverted on the final minute to Al Abraq some 220 kilometres away.
“The Libyan authorities rescinded our accepted [for] touchdown in Benghazi with no purpose,” Troost-Ekong stated on social media.
“They’ve locked the airport gates and left us with out telephone connection, meals or drink. All to play thoughts video games.
“Because the captain, along with the group, we now have determined that we are going to not play this recreation.”
The Libyan Soccer Federation stated it regretted the flight diversion, including: “It’s important to notice that such incidents can happen resulting from routine air visitors management protocols, safety checks or logistical challenges that have an effect on worldwide air journey,” it stated on X.
The CAF stated it referred the incident to its disciplinary board, which might take “acceptable motion towards those that violated” its guidelines.
Photos posted on-line by the gamers confirmed a few of them mendacity on airport seats, a few of them asleep, with their baggage beside them and with no different passengers in sight.
Nigerian Soccer Federation spokesman Ademola Olajire stated the group spent 19 hours on the Libyan airport they usually had been prevented from leaving the power to board the buses that Nigerian officers finally employed.
“At previous midnight, it was learnt that there had been phrase from ‘greater authorities’ that the Nigeria delegation needs to be delayed for at least 10 hours on the airport for what they falsely claimed was carried out to their group in Nigeria,” Mr Olajire stated with out elaborating.
The Nigerian gamers and officers finally resorted to video games and music to ease their anger and frustration, he stated.
Among the many gamers in Nigeria’s squad had been Ademola Lookman, who scored a hat-trick for Atalanta within the Europa League remaining final season and is on the Ballon d’Or shortlist, and Victor Boniface, a striker for German champion Bayer Leverkusen.
English Premier League gamers Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Taiwo Awoniyi and Wilfred Ndidi had been additionally within the group that beat Libya 1-0 on Friday.
The Libya group accused Nigeria of maltreatment forward of the primary leg, an allegation the Nigerian federation denied.
Libya captain Faisal Al-Badri stated they had been delayed “from one metropolis to a different” for 3 hours after their luggage had been searched, and earlier than they had been transported on a street journey to town the place the match was performed. He had known as for “reciprocity”.
Nigerian Sports activities Minister John Owan Enoh stated he instructed the soccer federation to ship a proper grievance to the CAF.
“This should be on file and totally addressed,” he stated in a press release.
AP