Super Eagles Captain Troost-Ekong speaks as Nigerian Players are left to sufer at the hands of Libyan Authorities
Super Eagles Captain Troost-Ekong speaks as Nigerian Players are left to sufer at the hands of Libyan Authorities
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has reacted to the ill-treatment meted on the team by Libyan Airport authorities ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Benina.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles were held hostage by Libyan authorities at the Al-Abaq Airport on Sunday night for over 12 hours.
The team were billed to play hosts Libya on Tuesday in the return leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Nigeria had pipped Libya 1-0 in the first leg in Uyo on Saturday to maintain leadership of Group D, after Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s 86th minute strike off a cross from Moses Simon.
The team have now resolved to boycott the return leg of the AFCON qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.
This the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) explained was as a result of the obvious maltreatment by the Libyan government officials who kept and refused to clear the entire Nigerian team at the Al Abaq airport.
Meanwhile, reactions to the inhumane treatment by the Libyan authority have continued to generate reactions from Nigerians with the topic dominating different social media spaces.
The Super Eagles captain who could not hold his frustration about the situation after no end in sight for over 12 hours, bore his thought on the mind games being played by the host, via his X handle.
” 12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted whilst descending. Libya government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.
“They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games.
“I’ve experienced stuff before playing away in Africa but this is disgraceful behaviour. Even the Tunisian Pilot who thankfully managed to navigate the last minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land had never seen something like this before”.
” At this point we have called for our Nigerian Government to intervene and rescue us. As the captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game. CAF should look at the report and what is happening here. Even if they decide to allow it.”
” This kind of behaviour, let them have the points. We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security it’s not safe. We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us IF we continued”.
“We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen, but these things on purpose have nothing to do with international football,” he said.
Nigeria were billed to face Libya on Tuesday from 8 p.m. in Benina, a journey of about four hours by road from the Al-Abaq Airport.(NAN)
Sports
EPL; Manchester City lose fourth game in a row after defeat by Brighton
EPL; Manchester City lose fourth game in a row after defeat by Brighton
Manchester City’s misery continued with a 2-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.
This was after late goals from substitutes Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley handed the champions their fourth consecutive loss in all competitions.
The defeat marks the first time City coach Pep Guardiola has lost four in a row in his managerial career.
The result kept his side second in the league standings on 23 points from 11 matches. Brighton climbed to fourth on 19 points.
City looked poised to end their ugly run after Erling Haaland scored in the 23rd minute when Mateo Kovacic threaded a long pass between Brighton’s two centre backs, and the Norwegian striker booted in his own rebound to extend his league scoring lead to 12 goals.
Brighton improved after the break and Pedro drew the hosts level in the 78th minute when City could not clear the ball and the Brazilian pounced to lash it past Ederson.
“Last season we dropped too many points and the gaffer told us to believe in ourselves this season and we are doing well this season against the big teams,” Pedro told Sky Sports.
O’Riley made his Premier League debut a memorable one when he secured the well-earned victory five minutes later, latching onto Pedro’s through ball and slotting home from close range past Ederson’s outstretched arm.
Guardiola will rue City’s squandered first-half chances, including a couple from Haaland in the span of a few minutes that on a different night could have seen the Norwegian celebrating a hat-trick.
The first chance saw goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen dive to stop a blistering Haaland shot with his right ankle at the near post. Haaland then headed just over the bar.
While Brighton had only 39.5% possession, it felt like a goal was coming in the second half. The hosts had a terrific chance soon after the break when Jack Hinshelwood leapt high to head down a looping cross from Pervis Estupinan that an alert Ederson swatted away.
City have been hit by injuries with Nathan Ake, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Ruben Dias missing on Saturday, alongside longer-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb.
Their previous three defeats were a 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur that eliminated them from the League Cup.
A shock 2-1 league loss at Bournemouth, and a 4-1 Champions League thrashing by Sporting that had midfielder Bernardo Silva saying City were in a “dark place”. (Reuters/NAN)
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BREAKING: Erik ten Hag sacked as Manchester United Coach
Manchester United have sacked Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag’s two-and-a-half-year spell at Old Trafford ended on Monday after a poor start to the campaign.
The development comes after a series of poor results, with United sitting 14th in the Premier League table.
Ten Hag was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
The 54-year-old former Ajax boss was backed by new co-owners INEOS in the summer with a contract extension until June 2026.
However, Man Utd’s underwhelming start to the new campaign has now seen the manager pay the price for their patchy form
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