By Abiola Olawale
After enduring an extended period of detention at Abraq Airport by Libyan authorities, the players and officials of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national football team, have finally been permitted to board a chartered plane bound back to Nigeria.
This development comes after a series of negotiations and diplomatic interventions involving the Nigerian Football Federation, the Libyan government, and relevant international bodies.
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa via her X handle, confirmed that the players and officials are now coming back to Nigeria.
She wrote: “Super Eagles team now boarding. Journey mercies to all of them.”
A Super Eagles player, Bruno Onyemaechi, also confirmed the team will soon leave for Nigeria.
He wrote: “Me and Libya, I don wash my hands common. Nothing concerns me and una again. Thank God I’m going back.”
This comes after the Super Eagles players were held hostage at the airport on arrival in Libya ahead of their crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.
The New Diplomat gathered that the situation happened when the chartered flight airlifting Super Eagles players was unexpectedly diverted from Benghazi to Abraq Airport.
The unexpected diversion was said to have been done despite prior agreements and approvals the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had secured.
NFF had arranged transportation in Benghazi, but the sudden diversion left the team stranded at Abraq Airport without buses provided by the Libyan FA.
This left the whole Super Eagles team stranded for 11 hours as they were locked up at the airport.
Following the development, the NFF announced that the Super Eagles will no longer play Tuesday’s AFCON qualifier match against Libya.
