“No food, nowhere to sleep” – Bayer Leverkusen’s Boniface laments Libya’s treatment after Super Eagles stranded for 13 hours

Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has voiced his frustration after the Nigerian national team was left stranded at Al Abraq Airport in Libya for nearly 13 hours, Soccernet.ng reports. 

The team, led by coach Austin Eguavoen, faced unexpected delays after their chartered ValueJet aircraft was diverted from Benghazi Airport on Sunday night.

The diversion occurred just as the pilot was preparing to land at Benghazi, forcing the plane to reroute to the smaller Al Abraq International Airport, a facility typically used for Hajj operations.

The sudden change left the Nigerian delegation stranded without any reception or transportation from the Libyan Football Federation.

See Iskaba bus wey them bring come yesterday
Nobody enter ooo pic.twitter.com/ntUfAe4iBx

— Victor Boniface (@boniface_jrn) October 14, 2024
The Nigeria Football Federation had previously arranged vehicles to transport the Super Eagles from the airport to their hotel in Benghazi, a three-hour drive away. However, the diversion unhinged these plans, leaving players and officials in limbo.

Reacting to the ordeal, Boniface took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, expressing his disappointment with the situation.

“Been at the airport for almost 13 hours, no food, no Wi-Fi, nowhere to sleep. Africa, we can do better,” the Bayer Leverkusen star tweeted, also calling on CAF to take action.

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

— Victor Boniface (@boniface_jrn) October 14, 2024
The Super Eagles were in Libya ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifier, following a 1-0 win in the first leg in Uyo on Friday.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have announced that they will no longer play their AFCON qualifying match against Libya.