The Super Eagles of Nigeria have found themselves in a troubling situation while in Libya for an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
The team is reportedly being held at Al Abraq Airport under what many are calling hostile conditions.
Troost-Ekong took to social media to share his frustrations.
He expressed concern over the lack of access to food, water, and even phone connections.
The captain’s latest updates have raised serious alarm about the well-being of the players.
“We are being kept in an abandoned airport with no access to food or drink,” Troost-Ekong wrote.
His post on X (formerly Twitter) detailed the dire circumstances the team is facing.
“Can I shock you?! The pilot has just told us there has been fuel at this airport for the plane all this time. They could have released it but haven’t given us permission since. Can you imagine?! So how long are they planning to hold us hostage here?!” he said.
The team had landed in Libya in preparation for their AFCON qualifying match against the Libyan national team.
Instead of proceeding to their hotel, they were left stranded at the airport.
Troost-Ekong revealed that a bus was finally made available to them after a long wait.
However, they are still being kept in limbo as they wait for the authorities to allow them to leave.
“After our first tweets, magically a team bus arrived,” Troost-Ekong stated.
A driver at the airport seemed indifferent to their plight, choosing to film them instead of assisting.
“He has been standing inside the airport filming us and laughing with some of the other staff since last night,” Troost-Ekong explained.
The bus, according to him, was supposedly ready twelve hours after their landing.
Yet, the team remains stranded, waiting for the fuel needed for their flight.
“At this point, I’m even tired of laughing instead of crying,” he added.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has condemned the treatment of the Super Eagles.
They believe that the delay by the Libyan authorities was intentional.
The NFF stated that the team was left unattended at the airport for over twelve hours.
Reports indicate that the players and officials had no reception team or vehicles to transport them to their hotel.
This led the NFF to take the drastic step of withdrawing the Super Eagles from the upcoming AFCON qualifier.
“The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport away from Benghazi,” the NFF said in a statement.
The NFF expressed concern about the condition of the players.
They emphasized that the Super Eagles were fatigued and frustrated by the ordeal.
The match was set to be played at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, located near Benghazi.
The NFF’s statement revealed that they had made arrangements for separate vehicles for the team.
However, these plans fell apart due to the sudden diversion of the aircraft.
The players were understandably upset by the lack of support from the Libyan Football Federation.
“They failed to send any reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, which is three hours away in Benghazi,” the statement added.
The NFF’s decision to withdraw from the match reflects the seriousness of the situation.
The players have expressed their resolve not to play the match any longer.
NFF officials are now working on arrangements to return the team safely to Nigeria.
This ordeal raises questions about the treatment of visiting teams in international sports.
Senator John Owan Enoh, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, has already condemned the actions of the Libyan authorities.
He described the situation as “deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable.”
Senator Enoh emphasized the importance of respect and hospitality in international sporting events.
“We will not tolerate any form of disrespect or mistreatment toward our players and officials,” he stated.
As the Super Eagles await their fate in Libya, the incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by athletes traveling abroad.
In this case, what should have been a routine trip has turned into a nightmare.
The Nigerian government is actively working with diplomatic channels to resolve the situation.
Fans and supporters of the Super Eagles are calling for immediate action and safety for the team.