The Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, are on their way back to Nigeria after being stranded at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya for over 15 hours. The team, along with officials, faced severe conditions with no access to food, water, or Internet, sparking outrage and pressure from various quarters.
The Libyan authorities initially refused to refuel the team’s chartered flight or allow it to depart, leaving the players and officials in a dire situation. However, after significant pressure from external organizations, the Libyan government finally cleared the airspace and agreed to sell aviation fuel to ValueJet Airline, the charter service used by the Super Eagles.
Sports journalist Adepoju Tobi Samuel, popularly known as OgaNlaMedia, confirmed the development on X, stating that Libyan authorities tried to divert the team to Benghazi. However, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) stood firm, demanding a direct flight from Al Abraq to Nigeria.
This incident has drawn widespread attention, raising concerns about the treatment of athletes on international duty and the logistics surrounding African football teams. The team’s ordeal has now come to an end, as they head back home to Nigeria.
