Libya: ‘It’s Hostage Taking’, FG Told What to Do After Super Eagles’ Disturbing Experience
- Prominent Nigerian media practitioner, Biola Kazeem, described what happened to the Super Eagles in Libya as "hostage-taking"
- Kazeem insisted that although Libyans might call it mind games or dark art, it is far from it
- Kazeem called on President Bola Tinubu's administration to wade into the situation and "issue a very strong statement"
Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering public journalism.
Tripoli, Libya - A politically conscious media personality, Biola Kazeem, has asked President Bola Tinubu's government to “issue a very strong statement” on the Super Eagles’ disturbing experience in Libya.
Legit.ng reports that the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Monday morning October 14, 2024, resolved to boycott the return leg of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.
Source: Twitter
The match is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, close to Benghazi.
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The boycott by the Super Eagles followed alleged maltreatment by the Libyan government officials who reportedly kept and refused to clear the entire Nigerian team at the Al Abaq airport, 13 hours after they landed.
A statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday morning, October 14, noted that the fatigued and frustrated players have now resolved not to play the match.
Legit.ng gathered that the NFF, supporting the players’ decision, is currently arranging for the team to fly back to Nigeria, effectively pulling them out of the fixture.
The scenes from Libya have stirred conversations among Nigerians on social media.
Reacting, Kazeem condemned the “barbaric conduct” of the Libyans.
He wrote on his known X (formerly Twitter) handle:
“What has happened to the Super Eagles in Libya is not mind games or dark art. It's hostage-taking and I expect the FG to issue a very strong statement.
"CAF itself must protect the sanctity of football by coming down hard upon Libya. This is 2024. There is no room for barbaric conduct.”
Expert calls for sanctions on Libya
Meanwhile, Francis Achi, an award-winning journalist who is the media officer (MO) of the national under-17 team of Nigeria, called for sanctions by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on the Libyan Football Federation (LFF).
Achi told Legit.ng:
"It is an error for CAF to allow international football matches to be played in Libya, a country with two separate governments in power.
"What Libyan authorities did to Super Eagles, officials, and the entire Nigerian contingent on Sunday night/Monday is a big shame to Libya and African football.
"I expect CAF to do the needful by sanctioning Libya FA."
Libyan captain decries 'poor treatment' in Nigeria
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Libya's captain, Faisal Al-Badri, decried their players' alleged poor treatment when they arrived in Nigeria for the AFCON qualifying match first leg.
Al-Badri lamented that the NFF arranged poor-quality transportation as they journeyed from Port Harcourt in Rivers state to Uyo in Akwa Ibom state.
Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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Source: Legit.ng
