THE South Sudan national team was on Sunday stranded in Libya, confronted with a situation strikingly similar to what happened to the Nigerian national team last year.
The players were reportedly stuck at the airport for 24 hours without food or water.
In 2024, the Nigerian team, the Super Eagles, experienced the same ordeal, leading players to accuse the Libyan government of racism against Black African players. 
Now, a year later, South Sudan finds itself in the exact same situation the Super Eagles were in, raising serious concerns about the treatment of black African national teams in Libya.
The Bright Stars were in the North African country for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Sudan. The team was left stranded for several hours at Benina International Airport in Benghazi, Libya, on Sunday, 23 March 2025.
Reports from the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) confirmed that the delegation was delayed for over three hours due to the absence of representatives from the Sudanese Football Association, who were supposed to welcome them upon arrival.
The situation worsened when Libyan migration authorities seized the passports of the South Sudanese players and officials. This left the team in a state of confusion and unable to proceed with their preparations for the important match.
In a post on their official X (formerly Twitter) account, the SSFA shared a photo and video of the Bright Stars stranded in the airport lounge. Their statement read:
“A footage of Bright Stars stranded for a staggering three hours at Benina International Airport, Benghazi, Libya, when representatives of the Sudanese Football Association failed to turn up at their reception. The passports of the delegation were seized by the Libyan Migration Authority.”
Despite the ordeal, the Bright Stars are expected to continue with their World Cup qualifying campaign. However, the disruption has undoubtedly affected their schedule and preparation for the high-stakes fixture.
South Sudan will be looking to stay focused as they aim to secure their first-ever World Cup appearance. Meanwhile, questions remain over the conduct of host nations and football authorities in ensuring fair play and smooth arrangements for visiting teams.
Eighteen-Eleven Media