₦airaland Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt7h79V4Olg?si=OJbCN3zFJvFX8VQL

William Troost-Ekong is the captain of the Super Eagles.

William Troost-Ekong (M.O.N) @WTroostEkong

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 Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.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 int. football.

Pictures 3 and 4: William Troost-Ekong on IG stories.

Victor Boniface @boniface_jrn

Been at the airport for almost 13 hours no food no wifi no where to sleep
African we can do better
@caf

Adepoju Tobi Samuel 🇳🇬 @OgaNlaMedia

UPDATE:

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after consulting with the Team doctors and players have been advised not to honour the game due to the health of the players.

The Nigerian contigent have spent 12+ hours at the Al-Abraq airport.

The players have been calm and shown understanding with the NFF.

This is sad for African Football.

Solace Chukwu @TheOddSolace

I support a boycott, not because I delude myself into thinking it will force CAF to act (it won't), but because, as Ekong has articulated here, the safety of the contingent, even when they are allowed egress from the airport, is in no way guaranteed.

Solace Chukwu @TheOddSolace

To be clear, CAF will probably just award Libya the points and 3 goals. Good for them. The Super Eagles will qualify still. But even if they wouldn't, it still would be unconscionable to ask the players to play this match. This is beyond football at this point.

North Africa is notorious for this kind of tricks.

This has always been the case in North Africa.

naptu2:
There's a reason that Enyimba have reported Raja to CAF.

My dad led many Nigerian teams to North Africa in the 1970s and '80s and he told me about the antics of the north Africans.


He said that he usually called the Nigerian ambassador in the host country days before any match. He would tell the ambassador to book a hotel and hire a bus for the team.


This is because (1) fans of the north African team would usually camp outside the visiting teams hotel and they would make a lot of noise with loud speakers and drums, to ensure that players of the visiting team do not sleep at night.

2) They would usually book hotels in the red light district for the visiting team so that their players would be distracted by prostitutes.


3) Matches are usually held at night and in towns that are close to the Mediterranean, rather than their home town, so that the visiting players would be bothered by the cold.

4) Bags of urine are sometimes thrown at the reserve bench


I guess that Enyimba believe that Raja is trying to create animosity in the minds of its supporters so that they will give Enyimba a terrible time when Enyimba goes to Casablanca.

naptu2:
Chief Abiola’s story included some underhand practices by host teams against visiting teams (changing the venue or kick-off times, etc.) This unfortunately was a regular occurrence in African football, as you can see from the post below.

I told you guys there is nothing like one Africa.
It's a very stupid idea that shows weakness. If Nigeria alone has great leaders we should be competing with China, Russia, Japan, USA, Israel.

One Africa is a stupid fallacy

Africa, we are just a funny set of people. Imaging other continent reading the news Football is not war abeg.

This is sad

Shame on Africa, evil set of black Nation, why won't the white be better and ahead of black, bunch of evil corrupt being.

so sad

Walk over if you try that

Mind game

Ekong alone can cause the match to be cancelled.

Libya should be sanctioned.

Very good one. Libyans just get bad mind and at this time I am pitying the Nigerians living there trying to make ends meet, hope they won't be maltreated and subjected to hostility as a result of the Afcon qualifier match result 🤔

D

Trying to intimidated the players

PALLERMO:
At this time I pity Nigerians living in Libya, make them no come dey maltreat them oo🤔

I swear I rather be maltreated in my own country knowing I’m allowed to fight back

Despicable!!!!
Damn!

In a nutshell, treat them same way wen they come to naija. Treat them like a piece of rag. Let them sleep outside d stadium. CAF WU them help?

Payback time!

You did it to them when they came here, though on a small level.

What you sow you reap.

These are not mind games but harassment.
They are openly harassing our players and will likely get away with it because we have weaklings now ruling us.

Is it not this same Libyans that were refugees here, been nuisances?

While here, they had a hateful vibe, a murderous energy... the players should never bow to pressure of playing the match

I know North African countries can do anything for continental football, but Libya in particular had turned to beastland after the death of Gadaffi. Useless CAF should do something about it. Such treatment was inhumane.

If by now our government have not landed in Lydia then shame on Nigeria government

D giant of Africa indeed .. Tinubu is a disaster

The players should come home. CAF can award them the 3 point if they choose to condone this useless, crude and chaotic behaviour.

Afterall, if we play and lose under this condition, they will still get the 3 points. We need to make a statement, otherwise next time, visiting countries will be routed to Maiduguri airport and come with bus to play at Akwa Ibom stadium

A word of advice, if only they will listen and learn.

IMPARTIAL:
Payback time!

You did it to them when they came here, though on a small level.

What you sow you reap.

If you're stupid and you know it, shut your mouth (2x)
If you're stupid and you know it, but you really want to show it, since you're stupid and you know it, go ahead.

IMPARTIAL:
Payback time!

You did it to them when they came here, though on a small level.

What you sow you reap.

Why are U always shedding tears of sorrow on every trend

Is Tinubu Mr brown tooth your father ?

When Nigeria are doing evil to fellow Nigeria, they justify it by tribe and religion.

The Libyan and showing you racism and justifying by skin colour.

Let us condemn evil in all shapes, tribe, religion and colour all the time.

Re
If you're expecting CAF to do anything about this north Africa menace, then my dear you are on a long thing.

Nigeria as a regional power should up her game in the politics of the game, we may have the talents but believe me you we don't have the political will and might to tackle this North Africans.