JUST IN: Tinubu's Govt Summons Libyan Diplomat Over Super Eagles' Ill treatment, Details Emerge
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Libyan chargé d’affaires in Nigeria following the widely reported maltreatment of the Super Eagles in Libya
- Nigeria's players had announced that they were boycotting the AFCON qualifier with Libya after being stranded at an airport for over 14 hours
- Like many Nigerians, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, the minister of foreign affairs, has been keenly monitoring the situation in the north African nation
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Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering public journalism.
FCT, Abuja - The Bola Tinubu government summoned the Libyan Charge d’Affaires in Abuja on Monday, October 14.
Legit.ng gathered that the summon was due to the alleged cruel treatment of the Super Eagles of Nigeria players and officials during their stay in Libya for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifying match.
Source: Twitter
Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, the minister of foreign affairs, disclosed the FG's move to newsmen after meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Tuggar described the situation in Libya as unfortunate, adding that Nigerian officials from the country’s mission in Libya have been dispatched to engage with the Super Eagles delegation.
Super Eagles players and officials leave Libya
Meanwhile, after more than 14 hours of being delayed at Al Abraq International Airport, the Libyan government cleared the Nigerian flight to bring the players and officials back home.
According to Senator John Owan Enoh, the minister of sports development, the Nigerian players are airborne and en route to Abuja.
Super Eagles resolved to boycott the return leg of the AFCON 2025 qualifier against 'the Mediterranean Knights' of Libya on Monday morning, October 14, 2024.
The match was slated for Tuesday, October 15, at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, close to Benghazi.
The boycott by the furious Super Eagles contingent followed alleged maltreatment by the Libyan government officials who reportedly kept and refused to clear the entire Nigerian team at the Al Abaq airport, 14 hours after they landed. The Libyans were accused of holding the Nigerian stars hostage.
A statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday, October 14, noted that the fatigued and frustrated players have now resolved not to play the match.
Top sports analyst berates Libya
Against the backdrop of the events in Libya, a top Nigerian sports journalist with The News Guru, Femi Fabunmi, who spoke to Legit.ng, said authorities in the north-African country "messed up by putting up a continental show of shame".
Fabunmi said:
"Unfortunately it's a serious dent on CAF. Forcing our boys to be stranded just in their bid to destabilise them due to 'win at all cost syndrome' is a self-murder attempt.
"Thank goodness the boys are back home in one piece, but this particular story will linger on in our memories for a lengthy time.
"The treatment meted to our boys is highly uncalled for and there's no justification for that."
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 Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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Source: Legit.ng
