William Troost-Ekong, Super Eagles captain, has announced that the team will boycott the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya.
Troost-Ekong’s announcement via X comes after the team was
held at the airport for “over 12 hours” upon arrival in Libya on Sunday for the
second leg of their qualifying series, following their 1-0 victory in Uyo on
Friday.
In a series of tweets on Monday morning, Troost-Ekong
expressed disappointment over the “unfair treatment” meted out to the Nigerian
team in Libya.
He said the Eagles “have been held at an abandoned airport
in Libya for over 12 hours” after their plane was diverted while descending. He
said the players were left stranded without phone connection food or drink.
The Al-Kholood defender also said the Nigerian team was not
allowed to enter any hotels following “instructions from the Libyan
authorities”.
Read the full statement below:
12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Lybia after our plane
was diverted whilst descending. Lybian government rescinded our approved
landing in Benghazi with no reason. They’ve locked the airport gates and left
us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games.
I’ve experienced stuff before playing away in Africa but
this is disgraceful behaviour. 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 something like this before.
Upon arrival he tried to find a nearby airport to rest with
his crew to be denied at every hotel again under Government instruction. He
could sleep there but NO NIGERIAN crew members allowed. They have returned to
now sleep on the plane which is parked up.
At this point we have called for our Nigerian Government to
intervene and rescue us. As the captain together with the team we have decided
that we will NOT play this game. CAF should look at the report and what is
happening here. Even if they decide to allow.
This kind of behaviour, let them have the points. We will
not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security it’s not safe. We
can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us IF we
continued.
We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are
our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen but these things on purpose have nothing
to do with int. football.
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