Why We Will Not Play Libya Return Leg-William Troost-Ekong

William Troost-Ekong, the captain of the Super Eagles, has revealed that the team will not be honouring the second leg of it’s African Cup of Nations qualifiers match with the Libya national team.

According to Troost-Ekong, the players agreed to boycott the match following their airport ordeal.

Nigeria defeated Libya 1-0 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, October 11. Both nations are scheduled to play the return leg in Libya on October 15.

However, upon arriving in Libya airspace on Sunday, the plane flying the Super Eagles which was originally supposed to land in Benghazi was diverted to a small airport three hours away.

Upon landing, the players were abandoned at the airport with no reception representatives from the Libyan Football Federation.

In a series of posts on Monday morning, Troost-Ekong expressed disappointment over the ‘disgraceful’ airport ordeal, and disclosed that the Nigerian team have agreed to boycott the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match with Libya.

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 Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghaz with no reason.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.”