No food, nowhere to sleep, Boniface laments airport ordeal in Libya
Victor Boniface, the Nigerian forward, has addressed the Super Eagles' difficult experience of being stuck for 12 hours at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya.
The Nigerian team, in Libya for a crucial AFCON 2025 qualifier, encountered unforeseen delays upon their arrival on Sunday.
Expressing his discontent on X on Monday, Boniface stated, "We've been stuck at the airport for nearly 13 hours with no access to food, Wi-Fi, or accommodations. Africa, we can do better."
The Super Eagles arrived in Libya for their qualifier against the host nation. However, their chartered ValueJet flight was redirected from Benghazi Airport to the smaller Al Abraq International Airport at the last minute, usually used for Hajj operations.
As per a statement from the Nigeria Football Federation on Monday, this redirection happened as the pilot was finalizing the approach to Benghazi.
The sudden change left players and officials stranded without any assistance or transportation from the host Libyan Football Federation, despite prior arrangements.
The team was meant to be taken to their hotel in Benghazi, which is about three hours away, but the diversion disrupted these plans.
The NFF statement further mentioned, "Tired players and officials have remained perplexed as the host Libyan Football Federation failed to send a reception team or vehicles to transport the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, which is reportedly three hours away in Benghazi.
"The NFF had organized separate transportation for the team, but the plan was disrupted by the aircraft diversion.
"Players have decided not to participate in the match any longer as NFF officials are arranging for the team to return home."
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