Super Eagles interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has shared the distressing ordeal faced by his team in Libya.
The Nigerian squad was reportedly held at an abandoned airport located over two hours from the stadium where they were scheduled to play a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights. During their time at the airport, the team was denied access to food and water.
Due to the harsh conditions, the Super Eagles withdrew from the match and returned to Nigeria on Monday evening.
Reflecting on the incident upon their arrival, Eguavoen said, “We are grateful to the Libyans for eventually releasing us, but the 18 to 20 hours we spent there were unbearable. It was an experience we would never want to endure again.”
He continued, “We were effectively held hostage, and under such conditions, it was impossible to play the match. Football is meant to unite people worldwide, but what we experienced was deeply troubling and beyond comprehension.”
