'I'll be saying things I'm not supposed to say' - Eguavoen on Super Eagles' hostage situation in Libya

Austin Eguavoen, the interim manager of Nigeria's Super Eagles, has chosen to sidestep discussions regarding the troubling treatment the team faced during their recent trip to Libya ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations  qualifiers.

The Super Eagles were held at Al-Abraq Airport for over 17 hours after their arrival for a crucial match against Libya's national team.

The situation unfolded when the team, which had previously secured a 1-0 victory in Uyo, was diverted to Labaraq Airport due to a directive from Libyan authorities, just an hour before their scheduled landing in Benghazi.

This unexpected turn of events prompted widespread condemnation, leading the Nigeria Football Federation  to withdraw the Super Eagles from the match and file an official complaint to the Confederation of African Football.

In a ruling announced on October 26, CAF awarded Nigeria three points and three goals for the abandoned match, citing breaches of regulations by the Libyan Football Federation.

Additionally, the Libyan Football Federation was fined $50,000, which must be paid within 60 days.

When pressed by reporters about the Libya incident during a pre-match press conference for the upcoming game against Benin, Eguavoen opted for a diplomatic approach.

"I'm going to keep it very short. Normally, football or sports is a unifying factor, normally it's an entertainment to unite people, but I'll leave it like that, " Eguavoen told reporters at the pre-match press conference.

"I don't want to go back to what happened in Libya, otherwise I'll be saying things I don't want to say, so please it has passed. Let's move forward."

The Super Eagles are set to face Benin on Thursday, November 14, at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny.

The match is critical for Nigeria's qualification for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, as they currently lead Group D with 10 points from four matches.

A draw will be enough for Nigeria to secure their spot in the tournament, while Benin, sitting in second with six points, is in dire need of a victory to keep their own qualification hopes alive.

Adeyemi Adewale

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