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AFCONQ: Super Eagles’s poor treatment in Libya despicable -Dabiri-Erewa

Prince Odutola2 months ago2 months ago03 mins

Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has condemned the treatment meted out to the Super Eagles team by Libya authorities ahead of its second leg match slated for Tuesday in the country. She noted in a press statement that traveling by road in Libya is most dangerous and totally not advisable because of the current situation in the country. The team which left Nigeria on Sunday to Libya for their return match had their flight diverted to an innocuous airport far away from the venue of the match. The implication of the diversion will now be another three hours of road travel to the main venue of the match, not minding the risk of road travel in Libya, considering the situation of the war-torn country. Dabiri-Erewa said the safety of Nigerian players is paramount to the country and was optimistic that the Ministry of Sports and the NFF will advise appropriately. She also called on CAF to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves. Already, the players, the pilots, and others on board the flight had been stranded and subjected to inhuman treatment at the airport for over 13 hours without water, food, rest, and other means of communication. The team was delayed at an airport in Libya for more than 13 hours without any tangible reason. The Super Eagles flight was redirected air borne on Sunday, and they were required to travel by road to their destination. However, there was no provision made for them by the Libya authorities, and all efforts to make alternative provisions by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was frustrated. Dabiri-Erewa appealed to the Super Eagles to remain calm and why the Nigerian Football Federation will decide the next line of action.

Photo news: Stranded Eagles in Libya

Prince Odutola2 months ago2 months ago00 mins

AFCONQ: Super Eagles resolve to return home

Prince Odutola2 months ago2 months ago01 mins

Super Eagles players and officials have resolved to return to the country following the poor treatment melted to them at Al Abraq Airport. The team’s captain William Troost-Ekong disclosed this after several hours wait without food, drinks, Wi-Fi and other basic supplies. “As the captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game. “CAF should look at the report and what is happening here. Even if they decide to allow this kind of behaviour, let them have the points. “We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security it’s not safe. We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us if we continued.” Officials of the NFF we gathered have also been making plans to fly the team back home.

Morocco 2025: Osimhen, Ekong, Ndidi, others to battle Benin Republic, Rwanda

AFCONQ: Ekong cries out, as Eagles languish in Libya

Prince Odutola2 months ago2 months ago03 mins

Super Eagles’ captain William Tristan-Ekong has called on Nigerian Government to urgently intervene and ensure their passage into Libya for their AFCON 2025 qualifying tie on Tuesday. According to reports, the team was denied access into Libya and has since been languishing at airport without basic amenities. Ekong who was disgusted by the act by the Libya authorities wrote; “12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Lybia after our plane was diverted whilst descending. “Lybian 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. “I’ve experienced stuff before playing away in Africa but this is disgraceful behaviour. Even the Tunisian Pilot who thankfully managed to navigate the last minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land had never seen something like this before. “Upon arrival he tried to find a nearby airport to rest with his crew to be denied at every hotel again under Government instruction. He could sleep there but NO NIGERIAN crew members allowed. They have returned to now sleep on the plane which is parked up. “At this point we have called for our Nigerian Government to intervene and rescue us. As the captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game. “CAF should look at the report and what is happening here. Even if they decide to allow this kind of behaviour, let them have the points. We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security it’s not safe. We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us IF we continued. “We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen but these things on purpose have nothing to do with international football.”

Super Eagles held hostage in Libya

Prince Odutola2 months ago2 months ago02 mins

Members of the Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been languishing for over 13 hours without basic amenities at Libyan airport, Trendbrio.com have reliably gathered. The team departed Nigeria on Sunday for the reverse fixture of the AFCON 2025 qualifier against Libya are still held at the airport as at press time. Sources close to the Nigeria Football Federation hinted that about an hour to landing, the Nigerian side aircraft approaching its destination, Benghazi was diverted to another city more than two hour drive from the original destination. The Nigerian lads were also denied from gaining access into the country by the Libyan authorities for over 13 hours. Leverkusen of Germany striker, Victor Boniface, who led the Super Eagles attack in the first leg lamented the poor treatment on his X handle. He wrote; “Been at the airport for almost 13 hours no food no wifi no where to sleep “Africa we can do better @CAF.”

AFCON 2025 qualifiers: Dele-Bashiru rescues Super Eagles against Libya

Prince Odutola2 months ago2 months ago02 mins

A lone striker by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru was all the Super Eagles needed to pip resilient Libya national team at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Friday. The Nigerian side had laboured to hit the back of the net before the Lazio FC midfielder struck in the 87th minute of the tie. The win keeps Nigeria on top of the Group D with 7 points ahead of Benin Republic on 6points. Nigeria needs an outright victory over Libya in Benghazi on Tuesday to punch her qualifying ticket to the next edition of AFCON in Morocco. Ballon d’Dor nominee Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface were listed to lead Super Eagles assaults against Libya. Stanley Nwabali retained his place between the sticks for Nigeria. The South African based goalie also got cover from the defence led by William Tristan Ekong, Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey and Bruno Onyemaechi. Usual suspects like Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi, Moses Simon were assigned the midfield role.

AFCON 2025: Super Eagles feast on Libya

Prince Odutola2 months ago2 months ago04 mins

Nigeria will host Libya in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo this evening. The Super Eagles will be aiming to extend their unbeaten start to the AFCON qualifiers, while the visitors are still seeking their first win of the qualifying campaign. Nigeria followed up a 3-0 victory over Benin Republic in their opening match of the AFCON qualifiers with a goalless draw away at Rwanda a couple of days later. The Super Eagles top Group D with four points and are the only team yet to concede a goal in the group, and a double header victory over Libya will see them move clear and edge closer to securing qualification. This will be the fifth meeting between Nigeria and Libya, with the Super Eagles winning all four previous encounters, including two games in the AFCON qualifiers back in 2018. Augustine Eguavoen, who was appointed on an interim basis to lead the team, has retained his position and has been tasked with guiding Nigeria to the 2025 AFCON in Morocco. Nigeria finished as runners-up at the last AFCON edition and have lost just one of their last 14 AFCON qualifying matches – a run they will hope to extend on Saturday. Libya were held to a 1-1 draw by Rwanda in their opening match of the AFCON qualifiers before losing 2-1 to Benin in their second match. The Mediterranean Knights took the lead in the ninth minute from the spot via Faisal Al Badri, but a 12-minute spell in the second half saw them concede two goals that cost them the game. Head coach Milutin Sredojevic will hope his side picks up valuable points against Nigeria as they look to end their 12-year AFCON absence. Libya’s last appearance in the continental showpiece came back in 2012, but they are currently bottom of Group D with one point and will have to quickly turn things around if they are to end this run. Nigeria possible XI: Nwabali; Ekong, Ajayi, Bassey; Aina, Ndidi, Onyedika, Onyemaechi; Lookman, Boniface, Chukwueze Libya possible XI: Al Wuhayshi; Elkouri, Yusuf, Erteiba, Al Mabrouk; Al Badri, Al Shreimy; Salama, Al Khoja, Al Gleib; Krawaa

NFF dismisses Libya’s poor treatment claims, insists Libya caused own problems

Prince Odutola2 months ago2 months ago03 mins

The Nigeria Football Federation has rejected claims of poor treatment on arrival in Nigeria by the captain of the Libya senior men national team, Faisal Al-Badri. NFF insists the Libyan Football Federation created chaos for its own team, the Mediterranean Knights. NFF’s Assistant Director (Protocol), Mr. Emmanuel Ayanbunmi said the Libya Federation only informed the NFF that its team was landing in Port Harcourt, and not Uyo, only three hours to the team’s arrival on Tuesday. “I spoke to the General Secretary of LFF, at length, on Monday, 7th October and he never hinted that his team would be arriving on Tuesday (the following day). He only said he would get back to me but he never did. On Monday evening, someone sent as an advance party by the LFF called me and said his team would be arriving on Tuesday by noon. We made all arrangements to receive the team in Uyo on arrival. “It was only an hour after the team was airborne that he told me the delegation would be landing in Port Harcourt. That disrupted so many things, but we still raced on hurdles to get approval from federal authorities to allow their plane to fly them to Uyo once they concluded immigration formalities in Port Harcourt. Apparently, that would have meant additional cost to the LFF from the charter company, and they didn’t want that, so they preferred to travel from Port Harcourt to Uyo by road.” Ayanbunmi added that the Libyan delegation jettisoned road transportation arrangements made for them by the NFF and instead hired buses on their own. “If they travelled on buses that were not air-conditioned, that had nothing to do with the NFF as they hired their own buses. We provided security for them, with men and vehicles in front and behind their buses, so we are unmoved about their complaints and threats.”