FG blasts Libya over Super Eagles treatment , urges CAF to investigate

President Bola Tinubu, has condemned the inhumane treatment meted out to the Super Eagles of Nigeria by the Libya Government  .The Nigeria national team was in Libya for the second leg tie of AFCON 2025 qualifying  match

In a statement by Bayo Onanuga ,special adviser to the President on information and strategy, the President urged  the continent’s Football governing body CAF to take necessary action and prevent future occurrence

“President  Tinubu is deeply moved by the inhuman treatment endured by the Super Eagles of Nigeria at a Libyan airport, warmly welcomes their safe return to Nigeria.

The harrowing experience of the national football team at the hands of their hosts and the Libyan authorities prompted the Nigerian Football Federation to withdraw the Super Eagles from the scheduled match on Tuesday.

President Tinubu expects the Disciplinary Board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to conduct a thorough investigation and recommend appropriate action against those who wilfully violated the organisation’s Statutes and Regulations.

The President commends the proactive coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Sports Development in addressing the unfortunate episode and ensuring the safe return of our players.

President Tinubu applauds the players for keeping their spirit alive despite the excruciating ordeal in Libya.

The Nigerian leader recognises football’s unifying power in bringing nations and people together and views the treatment of our citizens as unsportsmanlike and inhumane, a stark contrast to the spirit of the game he deeply appreciates.

He fervently calls on all lovers of the round-leather game and administrators to unite and work collaboratively to prevent and overcome such incidents in the future.”

In the meantime, the Federal Government on Monday, summoned the Libyan Charge d’Affaires in Abuja over the alleged mistreatment of the Super Eagles players and officials in the North African country, ahead of their AFCON qualifiers.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuga, disclosed this to journalists after meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Tuga decried the “unfortunate” treatment the Super Eagles delegation were made to face, but said the country’s mission in Libya have been dispatched to engage them.

He said: “Well, it’s the most unfortunate situation because the Super Eagles flew to Libya to play a match. As you know, the Libyan team was here (last week)

“They were supposed to land in Uyo. Instead, they landed in Port Harcourt. And now our team has gone to Libya, and somehow the plane gets diverted to a different airport.

“And unfortunately, at that airport, there is no aviation fuel, because what we have decided is they need to refuel and get out. We will not be able to allow them to continue.

You know, it’s a good thing when they (the Libyan delegation) landed in Kano, they actually even got water, otherwise even water would have been a problem.

But suffice it to say that we have established contact with them. We have sent people from the mission to go there, representing the mission. They are in touch with the delegation.

“Now I am also communicating directly with the chairman (of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF).

“So we are in touch with the Chargé d’affaires. And I’m heading back to the ministry now, where we have summoned the Libyan Chargé d’affaires. This issue has to be resolved as quickly as possible. So we are on top of the situation.” he said

Meanwhile, The President of the Libyan Football Federation, Abdelhakim Al-Shalmani has announced his resignation during a regular meeting of the Federation’s General Assembly following the fallout from the controversial incident.

According to the Libya Observer, Al-Shalmani resigned on Sunday during the heat of the matter in a report on their website.

The report reads, “I do not want to be part of the failure in Libyan sports,” Al-Shalmani was quoted.

The Confederation of African Football has opened an investigation into the Super Eagles poor treatment in Libya on Monday, and has promised to sanction whoever is found guilty