Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, has condemned the recent actions of Libyan authorities, who held the country’s national football team, the Super Eagles, and their officials hostage at Al Abaq Airport. The incident, which has sparked outrage across the nation, unfolded when the Nigerian team, en route to Benghazi for a return fixture, faced an unexpected and alarming diversion.
Originally scheduled to land in Benghazi, the Nigerian aircraft was diverted to a different Libyan city just an hour before its scheduled landing. The new location, about a three-hour drive from the intended destination, left the Super Eagles, their officials, and support staff stranded and subjected to prolonged and unnecessary delays. According to reports, the team was held at the airport under unclear circumstances, further intensifying the anxiety and frustration experienced by the group.
Senator Enoh, in a statement issued through his spokesperson, Diana-Mary Nsan, on Monday morning, expressed his deep concern over the incident, decrying the poor treatment of the Super Eagles, particularly since they were in Libya to fulfill an international sporting obligation.
“Such actions by the Libyan authorities are deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable,” Enoh declared in the statement. “Holding our national team and officials hostage under any circumstances violates not only international sporting protocols but also the principles of respect and hospitality that should be extended to all visiting teams, especially for international engagements.”
He emphasized that the Nigerian government would not tolerate any form of disrespect or mistreatment towards its athletes and officials, adding that the treatment meted out to the Super Eagles was an affront to Nigeria’s dignity and the spirit of sportsmanship.
Enoh further assured Nigerians that the situation was being handled with the utmost urgency, stating, “We are in close contact with the appropriate authorities, and we are sparing no effort in ensuring that this situation is resolved swiftly. I urge everyone to remain calm while we engage diplomatically to address this matter.”
The diversion of the Super Eagles’ flight has raised serious questions about the conduct of the Libyan authorities, with many calling for an investigation into the circumstances that led to the incident. Nigeria’s football fans, already on edge ahead of the crucial match, expressed their outrage on social media, demanding a swift resolution and calling on international football bodies such as FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to intervene.
