The Tunisian pilot who flew the Nigerian football team to Libya has provided clarity on the controversial diversion of their flight to Al-Abraq, a remote airport, instead of their intended destination, Benghazi.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, left the Nigerian delegation stranded for over 16 hours. The team was en route to Benghazi for Tuesday’s crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya when their flight was unexpectedly diverted to Al-Abraq, a small airport primarily used for hajj operations.
In a video interview posted on X by Sports Journalist Pooja Media, the pilot clarified that the diversion was not his decision but came directly from Libyan authorities.
“The flight plan was to land at Benghazi, Benina, and we had the approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority to do so,” he explained.
However, upon attempting to land in Benghazi, the pilot was informed of a last-minute change. “They said no, it’s from the highest authority, you have to land in Al-Abraq,” the pilot revealed, emphasizing that all communications were documented.
He refuted media claims that the decision to divert was his, stating, “Everything is registered in aviation, we cannot hide anything.”
The pilot also highlighted the challenges of landing at the poorly equipped Al-Abraq airport, particularly at night and under difficult weather conditions.
“There is no ILS (Instrument Landing System), no air navigation approach, no VHR (VHF Omnidirectional Range). We had to make a visual landing,” he said, adding that his familiarity with the region helped manage the situation.
Despite the successful landing, the incident prompted the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to pull the Super Eagles out of the qualifier match against Libya.
“Players have resolved not to play the match any longer, and NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home,” a statement from the NFF confirmed.
