The Libyan Football Federation has addressed the Super Eagles’ concerns regarding their “hostage” claims at the Al Abraq Airport since Sunday.

After their 1-0 victory against Libya in Uyo, the Super Eagles departed on Sunday evening.

However, they faced significant travel issues upon arrival in Libya, as reports indicate that their flight was diverted from its intended destination.

The team has now been stranded at the airport for over 15 hours without food, water, or internet access.

Libya FA’s Official Statement

In response to these events, the Libyan FA released a statement via their official account on X (formerly Twitter), expressing their concern about the situation.

“We are deeply concerned about the recent reports surrounding the diversion of the Nigerian national team’s flight ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Libya.

“While we regret any inconvenience caused, it is essential to note that such incidents can occur due to routine air traffic control protocols, security checks, or logistical challenges that affect international air travel.

“These are standard procedures at airports worldwide, and delays or rerouting, though unfortunate, are not uncommon. We have the utmost respect for our Nigerian counterparts and want to reassure them that the diversion of their flight was not intentional.

“There are no grounds to accuse the Libyan security teams or the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately orchestrating this incident. Such actions are inconsistent with our values and principles.

“We firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation. It is important to highlight that just last week, our own national team faced significant challenges upon our arrival in Nigeria for the third match of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification.

“Despite the difficulties we encountered, we did not make public accusations nor question the integrity of the Nigerian authorities. Football, in its essence, unites nations, and we are committed to upholding the spirit of fairness and mutual respect both on and off the field.”

NFF Debunks Claims of Mistreatment

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) previously debunked claims of mistreatment.

The General Secretary of the Libyan Federation stated on Monday that he would provide updates on his team’s arrival but did not specify that they would be landing on Tuesday.

NFF communications indicated they only received feedback at noon on Tuesday about the team’s arrival that day, leading to arrangements being made to receive them in Uyo.

Miscommunication on Arrival Location

However, the Libyan delegation landed in Port Harcourt instead of Uyo, An NFF spokesperson stated, “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 race on hurdles to get approval from the FA to allow their plane to fly them to Uyo once they concluded immigration formalities in Port Harcourt.

But they rejected it because it would involve additional cost for the Libyan charter company and they preferred to travel from Port Harcourt to Uyo by road. They also hired their own buses and we provided security with men an in front and behind their buses.“

As of now, the players remain stranded at the airport, with arrangements being made for the players to come back to Nigeria as they cannot no longer proceed with playing the match tomorrow