'It was a mess' - Nottingham Forest boss reacts to Ola Aina, Awoniyi hostage situation in Libya

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo was on media duties on Friday ahead of his side's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at the City Ground.

One of the topics the Portuguese football tactician touched on was the hostage situation involving the Super Eagles players in Libya before a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights, which was later cancelled by the Confederation of African Football.

Nottingham Forest had to monitor developments closely from England because two of their key players in the shape of Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi were in the Super Eagles traveling squad to Benghazi. 

After their plane was diverted from Benghazi, the Super Eagles players were stranded at Al Abraq Airport in Libya for over 16 hours before the Nigerian government intervened to bring the team and officials back to Abuja.

The bizarre episode in Libya led to the Super Eagles boycotting the matchday four Africa Cup of Nations qualifier that was scheduled to take place at the Benina Martyrs Stadium, Benghazi on Tuesday night. 

Aina and Awoniyi participated in the first leg tie at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo exactly a week ago, with the defender playing the full ninety minutes and the striker entering the game as a substitute with sixteen minutes remaining.

Reacting to Aina and Awoniyi's ordeal in Libya, Nuno Espirito Santo told reporters: "They have arrived, they are working normal. As soon as it happened, the club reached them, tried to see what's going on.

"It was a mess but it was important to get them back as soon as possible. They arrived a couple of days ago, they are working normal".

Nuno Espirito Santo will not be in the dugout on Monday as he has been banned from the touchline for three matches following his red card in the draw against Brighton & Hove on September 22.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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