The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has condemned the poor treatment of the Super Eagles by Libyan authorities ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
Describing the situation as a “violation of diplomatic protocols,” she urged the Nigerian government to take immediate action to safeguard the players.
In a statement released on Monday by NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, and shared via social media, Dabiri-Erewa expressed outrage over the team’s ordeal.
The statement, titled “AFCON 2025 QUALIFIERS: Treatment of Super Eagles players in Libya despicable,” outlined the difficulties faced by the Nigerian squad upon their arrival in Libya for the return leg of their qualifier match.
Dabiri-Erewa highlighted the dangers of traveling by road in Libya, a country still grappling with instability. “Traveling by road in Libya is most dangerous and inadvisable due to the war-torn state of the country,” she remarked.
The Super Eagles, who left Nigeria on Sunday, found themselves diverted to a remote Libyan airport, far from the match venue, forcing the players to endure an additional three-hour road trip. Dabiri-Erewa called the situation “unacceptable,” stressing that it exposed the team to unnecessary danger.
“It is unacceptable that our team should endure this kind of treatment on the international stage,” she stated, urging the Confederation of African Football to address the matter swiftly.
The situation worsened when the players, pilots, and other team personnel were stranded at the Libyan airport for over 13 hours, left without basic necessities such as food, water, or a place to rest.
According to Dabiri-Erewa, Libyan authorities failed to make proper arrangements to accommodate the team during this delay.
“The team was delayed at the airport for more than 13 hours without any tangible reason, and efforts by the Nigerian Football Federation to make alternative provisions were frustrated,” she revealed.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Dabiri-Erewa appealed for calm and urged the Super Eagles to stay focused while the NFF and the Nigerian government work on a resolution.
“The welfare of our players is our priority, and we are optimistic that the Ministry of Sports and the NFF will handle this appropriately,” she added.
The incident has sparked widespread concern, with many calling for better treatment of African teams during international competitions. Dabiri-Erewa vowed that the Commission would continue to advocate for the protection and dignity of Nigerian players wherever they compete.
“Our players deserve better, and we will continue to push for their protection and dignity,” she concluded.
(PUNCH Metro)
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