Players and officials of Nigeria’s national football team, Super Eagles, are finally set to depart Libya after being stranded for over 15 hours at Al Abraq International Airport.
The team’s return comes after heavy pressure from various external bodies on the Libyan government.
They agreed to refuel their chartered jet and clear the necessary airspace for their flight back to Nigeria.
The ordeal began when the Super Eagles were unexpectedly abandoned at the airport, with no access to basic necessities like food, water, or internet.
Stranded and left in difficult conditions, the team’s plight sparked widespread concern and calls for immediate action.
Sports journalist Adepoju Tobi Samuel, known as OgaNlaMedia, confirmed the latest developments on X.
He stated that the Libyan authorities had finally relented under the mounting pressure.
He wrote: “After pressure from several quarters, the Libyan government has agreed to issue clearance for ValueJet Airline to fly and sell aviation fuel to the airline.”
According to the journalist, Libyan officials initially proposed a complicated plan for the team to first land in Benghazi before proceeding to Nigeria,
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), however, stood firm, insisting that the clearance must allow the team to fly directly home from Al Abraq airport.
The situation has drawn attention across the football world.
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Many are criticising the treatment of the Super Eagles during what was supposed to be a routine trip for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
