The Tunisian pilot who flew the Nigerian national football team to Libya has shed light on the events that led to their unexpected diversion to a remote airport, Al-Abraq, instead of their intended destination, Benghazi.
Controversy arose after the Nigerian delegation, en route to Benghazi for Tuesday’s crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya, found themselves stranded for over 16 hours on Sunday following the diversion.
In a video shared by Sport’s journalist Pooja on X, the pilot explained how, despite planning to land at the designated airport, they were instructed by officials to divert to a different one just as they neared their original destination.
He stated that he had tried to inform the officials multiple times about the issue, but they insisted that the command came from the highest authority and had to be obeyed. He expressed concern for the players’ safety, as the fuel was specifically calculated for the original route.
This disclosure follows reports suggesting the Super Eagles players faced mistreatment from Libyan authorities prior to their match.
This revelation from the pilot has sparked widespread attention, with numerous reactions flooding the comments of the video post.
Written by Jennifer Amarachi
