The Super Eagles arrived back in Nigeria on Monday evening following a challenging experience in Libya during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification match.
Promise Efoghe, the Media Officer for the Super Eagles, confirmed the team’s safe arrival to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), stating, “We have finally returned to Nigeria; we just landed in Kano,” reflecting the exhaustion felt by the team.
Reports indicate that the players and officials were stranded for over 15 hours at Al Abraq Airport in Libya prior to their scheduled match on Tuesday. Team captain William Troost-Ekong expressed pride in the team’s resilience on his X account, stating, “Back home safe and sound. Proud of this team; the Naija Spirit can’t be broken. No matter what challenges we face, it’s in our blood to overcome.”
Victor Boniface, a forward for Bayer Leverkusen, also confirmed the team’s return with a simple post: “Back to Nigeria.”
According to NAN, the ValueJet chartered flight carrying the Super Eagles was originally scheduled to land at Benghazi Airport but was redirected to Al Abraq Airport. Upon their arrival on Sunday, the team and officials found themselves stranded for over 15 hours without access to food, water, or essential supplies.
In response to the situation, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced it is investigating the “disturbing” treatment of the Super Eagles at Al Abraq Airport. The governing body stated in an official release that it is in communication with both Libyan and Nigerian authorities to address the matter.
