Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has alleged that the Nigeria national football team is being held hostage in Libya after their flight to Benghazi was diverted to a closed airport. The players have been stranded for over 12 hours without food or water and have announced a boycott of their next match. They accuse the Libyan government of purposely obstructing their travel, which has led to widespread condemnation from the team members on social media.
Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has raised serious concerns regarding the treatment of the Nigeria national football team, alleging that they are being effectively held hostage in Libya. The Super Eagles were scheduled to travel to Benghazi for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match, but their flight was diverted to Al-Abraq airport, a location not authorized for their landing. The players have reported being stranded for over 12 hours without access to food or water, leading to allegations of deliberate obstruction by the Libyan authorities. Following the diversion, the players found themselves confined within the airport, being denied any opportunity to secure alternative transportation or accommodations. In light of these distressing circumstances, Nigeria’s football team has announced a boycott of the upcoming match, asserting that the conditions imposed upon them are intolerable. Wilfred Ndidi took to social media to express his frustration, stating, “This is not football. Very embarrassing. Hostage to a national team. Disgrace.” Another key player, Victor Boniface, tweeted about the prolonged wait at the airport, lamenting the lack of basic necessities such as food and internet access. Former Watford defender William Troost-Ekong provided a detailed account of the situation via a series of posts on X, condemning the treatment they received. He described the abhorrent conditions stating, “12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted whilst descending. The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason. They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games.” Troost-Ekong further called upon the Nigerian government to intervene on behalf of the team and declared that they would not participate in the match under such unacceptable circumstances.
The situation for the Nigerian football team arises within the context of international sporting events, where teams often travel across different countries for competitions. Such travel can sometimes become complicated due to logistics or political issues, which may lead to significant challenges. The incident described stems from a qualifying match for the Africa Cup of Nations, a prestigious tournament in African football. The Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national team, were en route to face Libya but encountered serious difficulties due to the diversion of their flight and the subsequent treatment they received upon landing.
In conclusion, the Nigeria national football team is facing significant obstacles that have led them to accuse the Libyan authorities of holding them hostage at an airport. The players have reported being deprived of essential resources and restricted in their movements, prompting them to boycott the scheduled match. This situation not only raises concerns over player welfare but also highlights the need for greater accountability in international sporting events.
Original Source: www.mirror.co.uk
