Drama As Super Eagles, Officials Remain Locked Inside Airport For Over 10 Hours

Players and officials of the Nigerian men’s football team, the Super Eagles, remain stranded at Al Abaq Airport following an unexpected diversion during their flight to Benghazi.

The team arrived in Libya late Sunday, only to be met with logistical challenges severely disrupting their travel plans.

According to reports from journalist Adepoju Tobi Samuel, the Nigerian Football Federation’s (NFF) transport arrangements for the Super Eagles were thrown into chaos when the aircraft, originally en route to Benghazi, was rerouted to Al Abaq—more than two hours away by road from their intended destination.

The NFF had secured approval for a chartered flight to land in Benghazi, conveniently located near Benina Airport.

However, just an hour before landing, the flight was unexpectedly redirected, leaving the team in a precarious situation and complicating their preparations for upcoming activities in Libya.

As of now, Samuel confirmed that the Super Eagles and team officials are still stranded at the airport, ten hours after their arrival.

He wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “5.10 am in Libya. The Nigerian contingent are still stranded and locked at the Al-Abraq airport.

“10+ hours at the airport stranded and held hostage. This is crazy.”

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles is expected to play Libya on Tuesday, at the 10,000-capacity stadium in Benina, for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.