The Minister of Sports, John Enoh, has condemned the treatment of the Super Eagles team by Libyan authorities ahead of their scheduled AFCON 2025 qualifier on Tuesday. The Nigerian contingent was unexpectedly diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq Airport, a location typically reserved for Hajj operations, rather than landing in Benghazi, where the match was set to occur.
The diversion left the players and officials stranded without assistance from the Libyan Football Federation, which failed to provide transportation. In a statement on his official X handle, Enoh described the situation as akin to an “almost hostage” scenario, emphasizing the urgent need for the safety of the team.
“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, all while being restricted by Libyan security.
Enoh highlighted that he has escalated the matter to key authorities, including the Foreign Affairs Minister and the National Security Adviser. He is in touch with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, who is currently with the team, and the chairman of Value Jet, the airline that transported the players.
“Our primary concern is the safety of our national team members,” Enoh said. He insisted that the NFF formally complain to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the incident, stressing that the focus should be on the team’s safety rather than forcing them to play under such distressing conditions.
In conclusion, Enoh urged CAF to take significant action against the Libyan Football Federation for their handling of the situation, reinforcing that the insistence on the match proceeding is unacceptable given the circumstances.