Federal Government Criticizes Libya for Poor Treatment of Super Eagles
Federal Government Criticizes Libya for Poor Treatment of Super Eagles: On Monday, the Federal Government of Nigeria summoned the Libyan Charge d’Affaires in Abuja regarding the reported
mistreatment of Super Eagles players and officials during their recent trip to Libya for the AFCON qualifiers. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuga, shared this development with reporters
following a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
In a related matter, the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) has referred the incident
to its disciplinary board for further investigation, indicating that actions will be taken
against anyone found in violation of CAF Statutes and Regulations.
Tuga expressed his dismay over the unfortunate circumstances faced by the Super Eagles in Libya.
He explained that Nigerian officials from the embassy in Libya have been dispatched to engage
with the Super Eagles delegation to help resolve the situation. “This is indeed a regrettable incident,
” he stated, pointing out that the Super Eagles traveled to Libya for a match, while the Libyan team had recently played in Nigeria.
the challenge
He noted the logistical challenges that arose when the Libyan team mistakenly
landed in Port Harcourt instead of Uyo. When Nigeria’s team arrived in Libya,
their flight was unexpectedly diverted to a different airport, which lacked aviation fuel,
preventing them from continuing their journey as planned. Tuga highlighted the
difficulties faced by the Super Eagles, noting that while the Libyan delegation received some basic necessities, such as water upon their arrival in Kano, the Nigerian team encountered significant obstacles.
The Minister confirmed that the Nigerian mission in Libya has established contact
with the Super Eagles to provide assistance. He also mentioned that he has been in communication with the chairman of the Nigerian Football Federation and has maintained direct dialogue
with the Libyan Charge d’Affaires, given that Libya does not currently have an ambassador in Nigeria. Tuga emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the issue needs to be resolved promptly.
In response to the situation, CAF has announced its intention to investigate the
circumstances surrounding the Super Eagles’ treatment, ensuring that appropriate
measures will be taken against any parties found to be at fault. The organization acknowledged the distressing conditions the Nigerian team endured, confirming that it has been in touch with both Libyan and Nigerian authorities regarding the incident.