The Nigerian Senate has demanded an official apology from the government of Libya, expressing outrage over the degrading treatment faced by the Nigerian Super Eagles football team upon their arrival in Libya for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Nigerian Super Eagles team was detained for over 15 hours in an abandoned airport with limited access to necessities and resources. The chaotic situation unfolded when their chartered flight, operated by ValueJet, was unexpectedly diverted and the players were essentially held hostage in the airport, forbidden from leaving the facility.
In an impassioned condemnation of the incident, the Senate described the conduct of Libyan officials and authorities as disrespectful to the Nigerian delegation, calling the situation ‘a disgraceful affront to human dignity’ and ‘a flagrant violation of international norms.
The Senate, determined to ensure accountability for the incident, has requested a comprehensive investigation into the matter, urging relevant authorities to conduct a thorough examination of the events that transpired in Libya
The Senate’s resolution on the matter was on Tuesday triggered by a Point of Order raised by Senator Sumaila Kawu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, who invoked Order 42 of the Senate Standing Rules to address the issue as a personal explanation.
Speaking during the plenary session, Deputy President of the Senate Senator Barau Jibrin, APC Kano North, who presided over the proceedings, condemned the treatment of the Nigerian Super Eagles team in the strongest terms. Jibrin decried the ‘terrible and condemnable’ treatment the players received, emphasizing that the spirit of sports is rooted in promoting unity, healthy competition, and a sense of camaraderie among countries on the African continent.
Jibrin said, “The matter was brought under Personal Explanation by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila (Kano South).
“What happened to the Super Eagles in Libya is not in tandem with the spirit of sports. The essence of sports is to promote unity and competition and enhance brotherhood among the countries on the continent. The way our players are treated is terrible and condemnable.
“This is what we intended it to do because we don’t want a diplomatic row; we think this is a mistake that the Libyan should be given a chance to correct and apologize to the Nigerian government.
“Nigeria is a big country in Africa. We always lead in terms of diplomacy, friendship and everything. Based on that spirit, I am sure you decided that this matter should be treated this way so we can give their leaders a chance to apologize to our national team.
“So, we call on the ambassador and whoever is concerned and the authorities to come out and apologize for what they have done to our national team.”
Meanwhile The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has strongly condemned the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) decision to boycott their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match, originally scheduled for October 15.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the LFF also vowed to take “all necessary legal measures” to protect Libya’s national team’s interests.
The statement also highlighted Nigeria’s “lack of cooperation”, citing the Libyan team’s “difficult experience” during the first leg match in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, which the Super Eagles won.
