Osimhen defends Nigeria squad. African footballers. Victor Osimhen has criticized the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the Nigerian team was stranded at a Libyan airport ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Though Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray, wasn’t part of the squad due to injury, his teammates were stuck at the airport for over 12 hours without food, water, or reliable phone service.
The Super Eagles were scheduled to play Libya on October 15, but after the poor treatment at the airport, they have chosen to boycott the match. Nigeria’s captain, William Troost-Ekong, shared details of their ordeal on social media, sparking outrage toward the Libyan authorities and CAF.
After being stranded for more than 20 hours, the Nigerian squad finally boarded a flight back home, with Troost-Ekong crediting social media for bringing attention to their situation. Osimhen expressed his anger and support on Instagram, stating: “I am disappointed by how my teammates and coaches were treated. This is against the spirit of sportsmanship. CAF and other football bodies need to intervene—this is inhumane.”
Osimhen added that this situation seemed like an attempt to weaken the team’s morale. He supported the decision to refuse to play unless the match is moved to a neutral location, emphasizing the importance of his teammates’ safety.
Nigeria currently leads Group D in AFCON qualifying, but after this incident, they have decided not to play the return match in Libya.
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More about Victor Osimhen
Victor James Osimhen, currently playing on loan for Galatasaray from Napoli, has made a significant impact in both club and international football. He began his career with VfL Wolfsburg in 2017 and later played for Charleroi, Lille, and Napoli, where he became Serie A’s top scorer in the 2022–23 season and led Napoli to a historic title. Internationally, Osimhen is a key player for Nigeria, winning accolades like the Golden Boot at the 2015 U-17 World Cup and being named African Footballer of the Year in 2023.