The Nigerian football team is boycotting the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier after being stranded at Libya airport

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria's soccer players returned to their country dancing and singing on Monday after boycotting their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Libya, where they were stranded overnight at Al Abraq airport in what the team captain described as ” Mind games”.

Although authorities in Libya denied it was sabotage, the African Football Confederation, which organizes the competition, said it would investigate the “disturbing and unacceptable experience” in Nigeria.

The Super Eagles were scheduled to play the Group D game on Tuesday. Nigeria won 1-0 when the teams played on Friday, when similar allegations of sabotage were made against the Libyan team after they were held up at a Nigerian airport.

Nigerian captain William Troost-Ekong said the plane was supposed to land at Benghazi airport but was diverted at the last minute to Al Abraq, about 220 kilometers (130 miles) away.

“The Libyan government revoked our authorized landing in Benghazi without giving any reason,” Troost-Ekong said on As captains, we decided together with the team that we will not play this game.”

The Libyan Football Association regretted the flight diversion, adding: “It is important to note that such incidents may occur due to routine air traffic control protocols, security checks or logistical challenges affecting international air traffic,” X said.

CAF said it had referred the incident to its disciplinary committee, which will “take appropriate action against those who violate its rules.”

Pictures posted online by the players showed some of them lying on airport seats, their luggage next to them and no other passengers in sight. On Monday morning some of them were sleeping.

Nigeria Football Association spokesman Ademola Olajire said the team spent 19 hours at the Libyan airport and were prevented from leaving the facility to board the buses that Nigerian officials eventually hired.

“After midnight, it was revealed that there had been word from ‘higher authorities’ that the Nigerian delegation was to be delayed at the airport for at least 10 hours because they falsely claimed that it had been done to their team in Nigeria,” Olajire said, without elaborating to address it.

The Nigerian players and officials eventually resorted to games and music to downplay their anger and frustration, he said.

Players in the Nigeria squad included Ademola Lookman, who scored a hat-trick for Atalanta in the Europa League final last season and is on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, and Victor Boniface, a striker for German champions Bayer Leverkusen.

English Premier League players Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Taiwo Awoniyi and Wilfred Ndidi were also in the team that beat Libya 1-0 on Friday.

The Libyan team accused Nigeria of ill-treatment before the first leg, an accusation the Nigerian federation denied.

Libya's captain Faisal Al-Badri said they were held up for three hours “from one city to another” after their luggage was searched and before they were transported on a road trip to the city where the match was being played. He had demanded “reciprocity”.

Nigerian Sports Minister John Owan Enoh said he had instructed the football association to make a formal complaint to CAF. “This needs to be put on record and thoroughly clarified,” he said in a statement.

___

AP Sports Writer Steve Douglas contributed.

___

AP Football: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer