De Tunisian pilot wey fly Super Eagles to Libya don explain how Libyan authorities order am to divert de flight to Al-Abraq airport instead of de planned destination, Benghazi.
In video interview wey Uyo-based sports journalist Festus Dada post on X, de pilot emphasize say de decision no be him but come from Libyan authorities. “De flight plan be to land at Benghazi, Benina, and we get approval from de Libyan Civil Aviation Authority to do so,” de pilot say.
However, when dem begin deir descent, dem instruct dem to divert to Al-Abraq, which be almost 150 miles away, around 300 kilometres east. “It wasn’t even listed as our alternate airport, something dat is not good,” he add.
De pilot describe de diversion as potentially risky, citing de fuel calculations made for de initial destination. He state dat he repeatedly question de directive but was told it come from “de highest authority.”
He highlight de challenges of landing at Al-Abraq, describing it as a poorly equipped domestic airport lacking essential navigation systems. “There is no ILS (Instrument Landing System), no air navigation approach, and no VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range). We had to make a visual landing, which is particularly difficult by night with marginal weather,” he explain.
De pilot’s revelations come amid controversy between Nigerian and Libyan football authorities over de treatment of de Super Eagles on deir trip for de 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group D fixture scheduled for Tuesday. While de Nigeria Football Federation alleged intentional mistreatment, de Libyan Football Federation attribute de crisis to logistical issues.
Meanwhile, de NFF withdraw de Super Eagles from de qualifier match following de team’s doctor’s medical reports on de players’ ill health from de trauma of being detained for 17 hours at de airport. “Players have resolved not to play de match any longer, and NFF officials are making plans to fly de team back home,” de body say on Monday.
