Super Eagles caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen has revealed the shocking ordeal the Nigerian national team faced in Libya after they were held hostage at an abandoned airport, Soccernet.ng reports.
The team had travelled to Libya for the second leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against the Mediterranean Knights, only to be subjected to inhumane treatment upon arrival.
Speaking to reporters after the team’s return to Nigeria on Monday evening, Eguavoen described the traumatic experience, which lasted nearly 20 hours.
“Thanks to the Libyans for letting us go, but it was a horrible 18-20 hours of experience, and we don’t want to go through that again,” Eguavoen said.
The Super Eagles were reportedly held at a remote airport, over two hours away from the match venue.
During this time, they were denied access to basic necessities, including food and water.
Eguavoen emphasised how this situation made it impossible for the team to compete under such circumstances.
“We were held hostage, we could not have played this match under these conditions,” he explained.
Reflecting on the broader impact of the incident, Eguavoen added,
“We know how football can unite the entire world, but for them to act like this, I cannot comprehend seriously. It was strange.
“CAF are human; they would do their investigations and come up with solutions.”
As a result of this ordeal, the Super Eagles pulled out of the match, which was scheduled for Tuesday, leaving CAF with the responsibility of deciding whether the game will be rescheduled or if the points will be forfeited.
Meanwhile, the Libya Football Federation (LFF) has condemned Nigeria’s withdrawal from the game, vowing to take legal action.
In a statement, the LFF claimed their delegation was poorly treated during the first leg of the fixture in Nigeria, which Nigeria won 1-0.
The Libyans accused the Nigeria Football Federation of not cooperating according to CAF regulations, further escalating tensions between both federations.
As CAF prepares to investigate, the outcome of this dispute remains uncertain.