The Nigerian national football team, known as the Super Eagles, faced an unexpected setback at Al Abraq airport in Libya.They were en route to Benghazi for an important Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. However, their flight was redirected to Al Abraq just an hour before landing, a city more than two hours away from their intended destination.

This sudden change left the team in a challenging situation, far from where they needed to be.The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had carefully organised their travel plans, arranging a chartered flight to land directly in Benghazi. This location was chosen for its proximity to Benina, ensuring a short journey to their accommodations.

However, the unexpected diversion disrupted these plans, leaving the team without immediate transportation upon arrival.Journalist Adepoju Tobi Samuel reported that although the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had arranged transportation in Benghazi, the Libyan Football Association failed to provide any alternative solutions at Al Abraq airport.

The situation escalated as the Super Eagles found themselves stranded for over 12 hours within the airport, with no buses or transport options available. Samuel noted the frustration of the NFF, which attempted to arrange alternative transport but faced resistance due to the airport gates being closed.

Team captain and defender Troost-Ekong took to social media to share their experience, describing the airport as desolate and the team as isolated, without even phone connectivity. He expressed his disappointment over the Libyan government's abrupt cancellation of their approved landing in Benghazi, implying that such actions were psychological tactics ahead of their important match.