Super Eagles to boycott Libya game after being held hostage at airport

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that the Super Eagles will not honour the second leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Nigeria and Libya after they were held hostage at the North African nation’s airport.
“Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home,” the NFF said in a statement on Monday.
According to the NFF, Eagles players and officials of the team have been left with no food, water or internet connection at the Al Abraq Airport for more than 12 hours after their flight earlier scheduled to land at Benghazi airport was diverted to the small airport just one hour before the arrival.
“The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport away from Benghazi just as the pilot was completing his approach to the Benghazi Airport. We understand the Al Abraq International Airport is only used for hajj operations,” the NFF said.
The Libyan Football Federation also failed to provide a reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, which is reportedly three hours away from Tuesday’s match in Benghazi.
The players were forced to sleep on the hard floor of the Al Abraq airport and remained locked inside the compound by security guards.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Heading 2
Enugu secures $200 million solar investment to boost electricity supply
Mr Mbah pledged the state government’s support in removing institutional bottlenecks that could delay the project.

Heading 5
FAAN announces temporary closure of Owerri airport runway for repairs
According to Mr Agbebire, the closure was tentatively scheduled to last about 25 days.

States
Police nab three suspects over alleged murder of 65-year-old woman accused of witchcraft in Niger
The command’s spokesperson said the incident occurred on Saturday.

Health
Lassa Fever: Nigeria records 1,115 cases, 263 deaths in 24 states
The agency urged healthcare workers and the public to maintain appropriate preventive measures.

Heading 2
Police nab 47 suspects for thuggery, drug peddling in Kano
Mr Haruna-Kiyawa stated that large quantities of illicit substances and dangerous weapons were recovered from the suspects.

Heading 5
Number of votes Tinubu gets in 2027 will show number of mad people in Nigeria: Rotimi Amaechi
Mr Amaechi had recently blamed the economic hardship under Mr Tinubu for the deaths of many Nigerians, including his mother.





