The Minister of Sports, John Enoh, has condemned the treatment of the Super Eagles by Libyan authorities ahead of their AFCON 2025 qualifier scheduled for Tuesday. The Nigerian team was unexpectedly diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq Airport, typically used for Hajj operations, instead of landing in Benghazi, where the match was set to take place.
This diversion left the players and officials stranded without any assistance from the Libyan Football Federation, which failed to provide necessary transportation. In a statement on his official X handle, Enoh described the situation as resembling an “almost hostage” scenario, stressing the urgent need for the team’s safety.
“I strongly condemn the treatment meted out to the players and officials of the Super Eagles,” Enoh stated. He reported that the team had been left unattended for over 15 hours, with no food, accommodation, or means to leave the airport, while being restricted by Libyan security.
Enoh has escalated the matter to key authorities, including the Foreign Affairs Minister and the National Security Adviser. He remains in contact with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, who is on the ground with the team, and the chairman of Value Jet, the airline that transported them.
“Our primary concern is the safety of our national team members,” Enoh emphasized. He called for the NFF to formally complain to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) about the incident, insisting that the focus should be on the team’s safety rather than pressuring them to play under such distressing circumstances.
In conclusion, Enoh urged CAF to take significant action against the Libyan Football Federation for their handling of the situation, reiterating that insisting on the match proceeding is unacceptable given the current circumstances.
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