King Osanga Recounts How He Paid $2000 To Escape Libyan War

King Osanga Recounts How He Paid $2000 To Escape Libyan War

Ibitoye Shittu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:28 PM
  • Former Akwa United star King Osanga has explained how he escaped from the 2011 Libyan Civil War
  • Osanga made it clear that the situation was hard for him to the level that many even thought he was dead
  • The Under-17 World Cup winner who now plays for Nasarawa United says he had to pay $2000 to escape

Former Nigerian youth international King Osanga has recounted how he had to pay the sum of $2000 for him to escape from the Libyan war in 2011 when he was playing for Al-Nasr Benghazi.

The 2011 Civil War was an armed conflict that was fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and rebel groups that were seeking to oust his government.

As at that time, Osanga was on loan at Al-Nasr from Etoile Sportive du Sahel and there was serious concern in Nigeria over his safety.

King Osanga, Under-17, Libyan war
King Osanga recounts how he paid $2000 to escape Libyan war. Photo: Pius Utomi
Source: Getty Images

The 32-year-old only played 11 games scoring four goals before he left Libya.

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Speaking to Punch, the Under-17 World Cup winner with Nigeria explained that the Libyan war was not something he can even wish his enemy to witness.

Statement made by Osanga

''The period in Libya is one I don’t like to relive. It was so traumatic. I remember one Nigerian newspaper even reported me dead.
''My dad had to call the editor of the paper. The experience is not something you wish for your enemy. Luckily, I had an Egyptian Visa, so we were smuggled out of Libya through the border. One of my teammates from Ivory Coast and I had to pay $2000 before we were allowed to escape.''

Peseiro calls Iwobi, Musa

Earlier, Sports Brief had reported how Jose Peseiro who is the coach of the Super Eagles finally released the names of the 23 players who will face Guinea Bissau in this month's African Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures.

As expected by Nigerian football fans, Napoli forward Victor Osimhen, captain Ahmed Musa, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi all made the strong Super Eagles squad.

Osimhen is the man of the moment in the Serie A and fans back home in Nigeria will be delighted to watch him perform on the pitch for the Super Eagles.

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Ibitoye Shittu
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NigeriaNigeria Football Federation (NFF)