\n<\/p>\n
NFF media manager Promise Efoghe said no reason was given for the decision to divert their plane to Al Abraq on Sunday.<\/p>\n
“No Libyan FA official has come to give reasons or provide any clarification,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The Libyans made no effort to help. When the NFF tried to make alternative arrangement, we were locked inside the airport.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s like we are in a prison at the airport.”<\/p>\n
Striker Victor Boniface said on social media that the squad were left without food, wi-fi or anywhere to sleep, and the Super Eagles account on X posted pictures of players sprawled out on airport chairs.<\/p>\n
Troost-Ekong described their treatment as “mind games”, which the LFF denied.<\/p>\n
“There are no grounds to accuse the Libyan security teams or the LFF of deliberately orchestrating this incident,” a statement added.<\/p>\n
“Such actions are inconsistent with our values and principles.<\/p>\n
“We firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation.”<\/p>\n
The journey from Al Abraq to Benghazi would take over three and a half hours by road, but Troost-Ekong said the players would not want to travel by that means because of the security situation in Libya.<\/p>\n
The country is split between two administrations – one based in the eastern region, which includes Benghazi, and the other in the west in the capital Tripoli. Both governments claim to be the country’s legitimate rulers.<\/p>\n
Efoghe said the Nigerian embassy in Tripoli was “handicapped” and could not intervene because of the political situation.<\/p>\n
“We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security. It\u2019s not safe,” Troost-Ekong added.<\/p>\n
“We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us if we continued.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n