According to Punch, the Nigeria interim coach Augustine Eguavoen has spoken about the Super Eagles’ harrowing experience in Libya, where they were held hostage for almost 20 hours, according to Soccernet. The team returned to Nigeria on Monday night, still reeling from the traumatic ordeal.
“Thank you to the Libyans for letting us go, but it was a terrible experience for 18 to 20 hours and we don’t want to go through this again,” Eguavoen told reporters. The coach’s comments betrayed a mixture of relief and anger as he recounted the events that led to the team’s withdrawal from the 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Super Eagles traveled to Libya for their second match against the Mediterranean Knights and were subjected to inhumane treatment on arrival. They were detained at a remote airport, more than two hours from the venue of the match, and deprived of basic needs such as food and water.
Eguavoen emphasized that the conditions make it impossible for the team to compete. “We have been taken hostage, we cannot play this match in these conditions,” he explained.
The coach also reflected on the wider implications of the incident, emphasizing the unifying power of football. “We know how football can unite the whole world, but why they do this I can’t seriously understand. It was strange.”
As the Confederation of African Football (CAF) investigates, tensions between the Nigerian Football Federation and the Libyan Football Federation are rising. The LFF condemned Nigeria’s withdrawal, accusing the NFF of misconduct during the first leg.
