The Super Eagles players and officials were allegedly mistreated while in Libya for the AFCON qualifiers, prompting the Federal Government to call the Libyan Charge d’Affaires in Abuja on Monday.
This was revealed to reporters by Yusuf Tuga, the Foreign Affairs Minister, following a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The scandal has been forwarded to the disciplinary body of the Confederation Africaine de Football, or CAF, for further investigation. It stated that “those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations” would face the proper consequences.
Tuga called the Libyan situation regrettable on the occasion. Nigerian representatives from the nation’s mission in Libya have been sent to interact with the Super Eagles delegation, he continued.
“Well, the Super Eagles flew to Libya to play a match, so it’s the most unfortunate situation,” he remarked. The Libyan squad was here (last week), as you are aware.
“Uyo was where they were expected to land. They arrived in Port Harcourt instead. Now that our team has traveled to Libya, the jet is suddenly rerouted to a different airfield.
We have determined that they must refuel and disembark, therefore regrettably, there is no aviation fuel available at that airport. There is no way we can let them go on.
It’s fortunate that the Libyan delegation had access to water when they arrived in Kano; otherwise, it would have been an issue.
But let’s just say that we’ve made touch with them. In order to represent the mission, we have sent representatives there. The delegation is in contact with them.
I’m currently speaking with the chairman of the Nigerian Football Federation, or NFF, directly as well.
Additionally, since Libya doesn’t have an ambassador here, we have been speaking with the Chargé d’affaires over the phone since last night.
We are therefore in communication with the Chargé d’affaires. We have called in the Libyan Chargé d’affaires, and I’m on my way back to the ministry. This problem has to be fixed as soon as feasible. We are therefore in control of the situation.
CAF Intervenes
This is in line with CAF’s declaration that it will look into the matter and, if necessary, discipline those who are found to be deficient.
“The Confederation Africaine de Football, CAF, has been in contact with the Libyan and Nigerian authorities after it was informed that the Nigerian National Football Team (also known as the “Super Eagles”) and their technical team were stranded in disturbing conditions for several hours at an airport that they were allegedly instructed to land by the Libyan authorities,” the organization said in a statement posted on its website.
“Those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations will face appropriate action after the matter has been referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board for investigation.”
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