The Nigerian Senate has called on the Libyan government to offer a formal apology following the ill-treatment of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s senior football team. The team, alongside officials from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), faced a challenging situation upon their arrival in Libya on Sunday, October 13, 2024, for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier. if you are reading from Phoenix Browser make sure you click on Read Original on the top to read the original version of the Article.
Reports indicate that the Super Eagles and NFF officials were stranded for over 14 hours after their plane was diverted to a smaller, less equipped airport. This unexpected delay left the team in an uncomfortable situation, highlighting the poor treatment by the Libyan authorities.
During the Senate’s plenary session on Tuesday, Senator Ismaila Kawu raised concerns over the incident, emphasizing how unacceptable the treatment was. He urged Nigeria’s Federal Government, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to formally address the issue with Libya, warning of potential diplomatic consequences.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, strongly condemned Libya’s actions. He remarked that the treatment of the Super Eagles was not in line with the spirit of sportsmanship, which aims to foster unity, healthy competition, and brotherhood among African nations.
In his statement, Senator Jibrin said, “What happened to the Super Eagles in Libya is terrible and condemnable. Sports should promote unity and brotherhood, not division. The way our players were treated does not align with the values of sports.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Jibrin expressed hope that the incident could be resolved diplomatically, stating that Libya should be given a chance to correct their mistake and issue an apology to Nigeria.
Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, echoed these sentiments, underscoring the importance of diplomacy and Nigeria’s leadership role on the continent. He stressed that Nigeria, being a major player in African diplomacy, expects better treatment of its athletes and officials.