Nigeria squad 'held hostage' in closed Libyan airport before boycotting match
Wilfred Ndidi claims Nigeria squad is being kept hostage in Libya after their flight before AFCON qualifier was grounded in airport four hours from destination
Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi has claimed he and Nigeria team-mates are being held hostage in Libya after their flight was diverted to a closed airport, writing on Instagram: "I'm scared for our lives."
Super Eagles stars were meant to fly to Bengazhi before facing Libya in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. But their plane was forced to land at Al-Abraq airport instead - four hours from their destination.
Players have been left without food or water for more than 12 hours, they say, with some alleging that the Libyan government was attempting to sabotage their ability to play after complaints of “hostile treatment” in last Friday’s reverse fixture.
Nigeria have now said they will boycott the fixture having been locked into the Al-Abraq terminal and denied an opportunity to make alternative arrangements.
Leicester midfielder Ndidi posted on Instagram : “This is not football. Very embarrassing. Hostage to a national team. Disgrace."
Later Ndidi published another post, without added context, that read: "This is becoming scary. I'm scared for our lives."
But William Troost-Ekong, the former Watford star now plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, has since said that the squad are hopeful that they can leave soon, writing on X: "Power of social media. Apparently our plane is being fueled as we speak and we should be leaving to Nigeria shortly. Thanks for everyone’s support!
"I REITERATE: We would NEVER treat a guest nation for a game in this way. Mistakes happen, delays happen. But never on purpose!"
In a tweet directed at governing body CAF Victor Boniface, the Bayer Leverkusen forward, wrote: "Been at the airport for almost 13 hours no food no wifi nowhere to sleep African we can do better."
Earlier on Monday morning Troost-Ekong went into even greater detail with a lengthy thread on X: "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 Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.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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