The Nigerian government has officially summoned the Libyan chargé d’affaires in Nigeria to express strong dissatisfaction over the maltreatment of the Super Eagles football team in Libya. This action follows the unfortunate incident that left the Nigerian national team stranded for over 12 hours at Al Abraq International Airport, after their flight was unexpectedly diverted from its original destination, Benghazi, ahead of their scheduled Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier.
On Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a strongly worded statement, revealed that the Libyan diplomat had been summoned to provide explanations for the poor handling of Nigeria’s national football team and to convey Nigeria’s discontent with the treatment meted out to the Super Eagles. According to the statement, the Nigerian government considered the incident as a gross violation of international norms, particularly in matters relating to the safety and well-being of visiting foreign teams.
The Super Eagles, who arrived in Libya on Sunday for their AFCON qualifier against the Libyan national team, were subjected to an ordeal when their chartered flight was suddenly diverted to Al Abraq International Airport, a smaller airport used primarily for hajj operations. The diversion left the players and officials stranded at the remote airport without any assistance from the Libyan authorities, resulting in a 12-hour delay that prompted the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to call off the match.
During their wait at the airport, no transportation or accommodation was provided, and the team was left in limbo, with serious concerns raised about their safety and well-being. The players, led by team captain William Troost-Ekong, refused to embark on the three-hour road journey to Benghazi, citing security concerns. Troost-Ekong also took to social media platform X, where he expressed the team's collective decision not to participate in the match, stating, “We will not travel by road here, even with security; it’s not safe. Let them have the points.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has labeled the incident as an "unfortunate breach of diplomatic trust" and emphasized that such actions could have grave consequences for bilateral relations between Nigeria and Libya. According to a senior official within the ministry, the Libyan diplomat is expected to provide concrete explanations for the treatment of the Nigerian delegation and measures to ensure such incidents do not occur in the future.
“We consider this not only an affront to our national pride but also a violation of the basic standards of treatment that should be afforded to any national delegation. The safety and dignity of our citizens abroad is non-negotiable, and we will ensure that Libya is held accountable for this maltreatment,” said the official.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has also called for stronger international oversight regarding the treatment of teams in AFCON qualifiers, emphasizing that this is not an isolated incident. Just last month, the Rwandan national team had lodged similar complaints about the conditions in Libya during their qualifier.
In response to the incident, the NFF is making arrangements to bring the Super Eagles back to Nigeria, with the team's management insisting that under no circumstances would they risk the lives of the players. “It is unfortunate that the Libyan Football Federation has chosen to handle matters this way. We have repeatedly stressed the importance of safety, and when that is compromised, we have no choice but to withdraw,” the NFF stated in a follow-up communication.
The situation has sparked widespread outrage among Nigerians, particularly fans of the Super Eagles, many of whom have taken to social media to demand swift action from both the Nigerian government and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Calls for sanctions against Libya have grown louder, with many questioning the safety of future sporting events in the country.
Libyan officials, meanwhile, had previously claimed that their team experienced substandard conditions during their visit to Nigeria for the first leg of the qualifier in Uyo, which Nigeria won 1-0. However, Nigerian authorities maintain that any complaints regarding their hospitality pale in comparison to the life-threatening circumstances their team endured in Libya.
As diplomatic channels work to resolve the matter, all eyes are now on CAF to see what actions will be taken to address this growing controversy and ensure the safety of all teams competing in the ongoing AFCON qualifiers.
The Libyan chargé d’affaires is expected to appear before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja in the coming days to discuss the incident in detail. Nigeria's football governing body, along with international observers, will be watching closely to see what steps Libya takes to rectify this diplomatic and sporting crisis.
