After greater than 12 gruelling hours on the Al Abraq Worldwide Airport in Libya, the Confederation of African Soccer has but to deal with the state of affairs of Nigeria’s Tremendous Eagles who’ve been stranded on the airport since their arrival on Sunday afternoon.
The Nigerian contingent had endured an extended keep on the airport after their chartered plane which was billed to land on the Benghazi Airport forward of the second leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in opposition to Libya, scheduled for Tuesday, was diverted to the Al Abraq Airport.
Nonetheless, the continent’s soccer governing physique was but to situation any assertion both condemning the act from the Libyan authorities or offering extra particulars on the state of affairs.
Checks by PUNCH On-line on the web site and the X, Fb and Instagram handles of the soccer physique noticed that CAF had but to situation any statements as of the time of submitting this report.
The Federal Authorities, by way of the Minister of International Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, says it’s at the moment in contact with the Nigerian Mission in Libya in regards to the state of the Tremendous Eagles.
In the meantime, the Nigeria Soccer Federation had decided to tug the Tremendous Eagles out of the qualifier match in opposition to Libya.
“The Nigerian delegation for Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier in opposition to Libya continues to be at Al Abraq Airport, 12 hours after touchdown. The chartered ValueJet plane was, unusually and dangerously, diverted to the small airport simply because the pilot was finishing his method to Benghazi Airport,” the NFF acknowledged.
“About an hour to touchdown, the Nigerian plane approaching its vacation spot, Benghazi, was diverted to a different metropolis greater than a two-hour drive from the unique vacation spot.
“Libya authorities maintain Tremendous Eagles and officers hostage on the Al Abaq airport in Al Abaq,” the Eagles media group said.
Tremendous Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, wrote on his X deal with, “Over 14 hours spent at an deserted Libyan airport. No meals, no water, no web entry previous to thoughts video games on a match anticipated to be performed tomorrow, No! That is completely loopy!!! #CAF_Online, please do the needful.”
Additionally, ahead Victor Boniface tweeted, “Been on the airport for nearly 13 hours, no meals, no Wi-Fi, nowhere to sleep. Africa, we are able to do higher.”
Netizens have continued to vent their frustration at CAF, calling for his or her quick intervention.
A person on X.com, Pleasure of Rivers tweeting as #PrideOfRivers, wrote, “Keep in mind 2021 when Rivers United have been pressured to coach at the hours of darkness in Libya after the stadium lights went off whereas coaching. The Libyans are horrible of us. #CAF_Online, you higher do one thing about this.”
One other X person, Leo Dasilva, tweeting as SirLeoBDasilva, wrote, “Hiya, #CAF_Online. We want our Tremendous Eagles again secure and sound. We want intervention from our authorities #NGRPresident to ensure the secure return of the gamers from Libya.”
One tweep, UG, with the username #UgwunnaEjikem, acknowledged, “Boycotting the match is the correct resolution. NFF ought to ship a aircraft asap and get our boys dwelling. If CAF gained’t reschedule the match at a impartial venue, then let Libya take the three factors. Two+ a long time of watching soccer and I’ve by no means seen something like this. Insane!”