Super Eagles forward, Victor Boniface, has expressed his frustration after the Nigerian national team, led by coach Austin Eguavoen, was stranded for nearly 13 hours at Al Abaq Airport in Libya. The team’s chartered flight, operated by ValueJet, was unexpectedly diverted from its initial destination, Benghazi, to the smaller Al Abaq Airport, leaving the squad in a precarious situation.
The incident occurred late Sunday night as the pilot was about to complete the approach to Benghazi Airport. In a sudden change of plans, the aircraft was redirected, forcing the team to land at the much smaller and less equipped Al Abaq Airport, far from their intended destination. Reports suggest that the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) failed to provide the necessary reception or transportation for the Nigerian delegation, which was left stranded without any means to reach their hotel, situated three hours away in Benghazi.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) attempted to make alternative arrangements for vehicles to transport the team, but their efforts were hampered by the unexpected diversion of the flight.
In response to the chaotic situation, Boniface took to social media to voice his displeasure. Posting on X (formerly known as Twitter), the Bayer Leverkusen striker highlighted the poor treatment of the team and called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to intervene and address such logistical issues.
“Been at the airport for almost 13 hours. No food, no Wi-Fi, nowhere to sleep. African football can do better @CAF,” Boniface tweeted on Monday.
The Super Eagles are in Libya for the second leg of their international fixture, having secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg on Friday. Despite their triumph on the pitch, the off-field challenges have cast a shadow over the team’s preparations for the crucial second leg, which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
This incident has sparked discussions about the need for better coordination and logistics in African football, especially when hosting international teams. Many have called for CAF to ensure that teams are treated with the respect and professionalism that is required at the international level.
The NFF is expected to take up the issue with CAF and the Libyan authorities to ensure that such incidents do not reoccur.
