The pilot who flew the Nigerian team has provided further insights into the ongoing controversy stemming from the conflict between Nigerian authorities and Libya regarding the treatment of the Super Eagles.
The flight’s unexpected diversion to the remote Al-Abraq airport, rather than their intended destination of Benghazi, has sparked significant tension between Nigeria and Libya.
While the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) claimed that the diversion was “intentional,” the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) denied any mistreatment of the Super Eagles, attributing the situation to logistical issues.
In a video interview shared on X by sports journalist Pooja Media on Tuesday, the pilot clarified that the decision to divert the flight was not made at his discretion but was directed by the Libyan authorities.
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“The flight plan was to land at Benghazi, Benina, and we had the approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority to do so,” the pilot said.
“However, when we began our descent, they instructed us to divert to Al-Abraq, which is almost 150 miles away, around 300 kilometres east. It wasn’t even (listed as) our alternate airport, something which is not good,” he added.
The pilot referred to the diversion as potentially risky, pointing out that the fuel calculations were based on the original destination.
“In aviation, we have our flight plan, we calculate the fuel to our destination, so we have to avoid this kind of thing because it may make a breach to safety,” he stated, adding that he repeatedly questioned the directive.
“When I asked to land in Benghazi according to my flight plan and according to my authorisation, they said no, it’s from the highest authority, you have to land in Al-Abraq.”
Refuting claims from the media that the diversion was his decision, he said, “Everything is registered in aviation, we cannot hide anything, so I asked them several times, at least eight times, and I warned them, probably I will be in trouble for fuel; they said it’s from highest authority, you cannot land in Benghazi, you have to divert immediately to Al-Abraq,” he added.
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The pilot pointed out that all relevant communications and authorisations are documented and could be provided as evidence if needed.
He said, “The truth was we were going to Benghazi, and I can show you the evidence of the approval, I have it. But at the last minute, they changed their mind and changed the airport.”
Describing the conditions at Al-Abraq, the pilot highlighted the challenges of landing at what he referred to as a poorly equipped domestic airport.
“There is no ILS (Instrument Landing System), no air navigation approach, no VHR (VHF Omnidirectional Range). We had to make a visual landing, which is particularly difficult by night with marginal weather,” he said, adding that the airport’s lack of facilities left them with “no second chances” if the landing had gone wrong.
The pilot’s two years of experience working with a Tunisian company in the region played a crucial role in successfully managing the challenging landing.
“It was not an easy matter at all. When a pilot hears this, he will understand that it was not an easy thing to land under such conditions. Thank God we made it safely,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has decided to pull the Super Eagles out of 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,” the statement said.
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