Semi Ajayi has struggled for minutes at West Brom

West Brom star Semi Ajayi caught up as 'Disgraceful' decision made on Nigeria squad

Correspondent AUTHORITY Sports journalist with a Masters in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University; transfer and club specialist across the Breaking Media network. FOCUS Transfer news, breaking stories, and club-level insight across the Premier League and EFL. THE INSIGHT Aheed utilises a network of club and industry contacts to deliver verified, high-speed reporting. He provides the foundations behind the headlines to ensure fans get the full story as it happens.

Published on:

14 Oct 2024, 6:30 am

Semi Ajayi is caught up in a peculiar situation with the West Brom star and Nigeria national team stuck in an airport ahead of their game against Libya.

The Super Eagles are set to take on The Mediterranean Knights on 15 October after their 1-0 win over Milutin Sredojevic's team in the reverse fixture.

However, the Nigerian team faced some shocking treatment upon their arrival to Libya, and taking to X, captain William Troost-Ekong spoke about his team's ordeal.

"12-plus hours in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted whilst descending," he wrote.

"Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason. They've locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games.

"I've experienced stuff before playing away in Africa but this is disgraceful behaviour. Even the Tunisian pilot who thankfully managed to navigate the last-minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land had never seen something like this before."

What next for West Brom star Semi Ajayi and his Nigeria teammates?

The bizarre scenes unfolding in Libya should be immediately addressed by the concerned authorities as well as FIFA.

National team fans revere international tournaments, however, such scenes tend to disrepute the beautiful game and put forth an argument to lower the number of international matches, with the calendar already congested.

12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Lybia after our plane was diverted whilst descending. Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason. They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games.
— William Troost-Ekong | M.F.R 🇳🇬 (@WTroostEkong) October 14, 2024

Therefore, clubs and players alike should demand more protection and West Brom would not be out of place to recall Ajayi from the camp if possible, with the Baggies set to travel to Oxford United next in the Championship.

Troost-Ekong has also suggested that the Nigerians will not take part in the game and it remains to be seen whether Ajayi and the others will be allowed to do so by their federation.

In other West Brom news, Irish media reacts to what West Brom duo Jayson Molumby and Mikey Johnston did v Greece.

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