The Tunisian pilot who flew the Nigerian national football team to Libya has disclosed that the highest levels of Libyan authority mandated the unexpected diversion of their flight.
The flight was diverted from its intended destination of Benghazi to Al-Abraq, a remote airport typically reserved for hajj operations, leaving the Super Eagles stranded for over 16 hours.
Speaking in a video interview shared by sports journalist Pooja Media, the pilot clarified that the decision to divert was beyond his control.
“The flight plan was to land at Benghazi, Benina, and we had approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority to do so,” he explained.
However, during their descent, the team received instructions to divert to Al-Abraq, located approximately 150 miles (around 300 kilometres) away.
The pilot expressed concern over the implications of this last-minute change, particularly regarding fuel calculations.
“In aviation, we have our flight plan, and we calculate the fuel to our destination. This kind of directive can breach safety protocols,” he stated.
Despite his repeated inquiries up to eight times regarding the necessity of the diversion, he was told the order came from “the highest authority” in Libya.
He emphasised that all communications and authorisations are documented and could be made available if needed.
“We were going to Benghazi, and I can show you the evidence of the approval. But at the last minute, they changed their mind,” he added.
Describing Al-Abraq’s challenging conditions, the pilot noted the airport’s lack of essential navigation equipment.
“There is no ILS (Instrument Landing System), no air navigation approach, no VHF Omnidirectional Range. We had to make a visual landing, which is particularly difficult at night with marginal weather,” he said, highlighting the risks involved.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has decided 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,” the statement said.
