Super Eagles denied takeoff despite available fuel in Libya, Troost-Ekong alleges

Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has further lamented the embarrassing and uncomfortable situation surrounding the delay of the Super Eagles at the Al Abraq International Airport in Libya.

The Nigerian senior men’s football team arrived at the airport on Sunday after their chartered aircraft heading to the Benghazi Airport was diverted mid-flight to the Al Abraq Airport.

The team’s captain, giving an update on the “hostage” situation, via his X handle on Monday, stated that while they’ve remained at the airport for more than 12 hours, the Libyan authorities are yet to release the aviation fuel to take off from the airport.

He also added that a bus driver who had arrived at the airport with a bus, alongside some other staff, had been mocking them.

The tweets read, “Update: 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? Still just waiting.

“After our first tweets, magically a team bus arrived and a driver who has been standing inside the airport filming us and laughing with some of the other staff since last night said the bus was ready 12 hours after we landed. Now, we have been waiting for fuel since morning. At this point, I’m even tired of laughing instead of crying.”

The Federal Government, through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; the Minister of Sports, John Enoh, and the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has condemned the distasteful situation.

More so, Super Eagles players — Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, have all expressed their disappointments over the matter.

The Confederation of African Football has, however, yet to condemn the act from the Libyan authorities.

The Super Eagles were initially billed to play the second leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya, scheduled for Tuesday.

After the back and forth at the Abraq Airport, the Nigerian Football Federation decided to pull the team out of the scheduled game.