Senate Reacts to Ill-treatment of Nigerian Players in Libya, Issues Demand

The Nigerian Senate has condemned the inhumane treatment of the Super Eagles by Libyan authorities during their recent visit for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The Senate has therefore urged the Libyan government to apologize to Nigeria for the ‘shameful behaviour’, which it says disregards human dignity and international norms.

In plenary on Tuesday, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, described the treatment as “terrible and condemnable,” adding that sports should promote unity, competition, and brotherhood among nations.

Senator Jibrin described Libya’s actions as a mistake that warrants an apology to the Nigerian government.

“The way our players were treated is terrible and condemnable. Fortunately, this matter has been brought to our attention, and we demand an apology from the Libyan authorities,” Senator Jibrin stated.

Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio also denounced the ill-treatment, calling it a breach of fair play and sportsmanship principles. Akpabio stated that the Senate will closely monitor the situation to ensure that the rights and dignity of Nigerian citizens are protected.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio said, “As the President of the Senate, I stand in solidarity with the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the entire Nigerian football community in condemning this unjust treatment. The Nigerian Senate will continue to monitor this situation closely and ensure that the rights and dignity of our citizens are protected. We will not tolerate any form of mistreatment or disrespect towards our nationals, regardless of the circumstances.

“We demand a thorough investigation from the Disciplinary Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and appropriate sanctions to be meted out against those involved.

“It is also imperative that the Libyan authorities take immediate action to investigate this incident and ensure that those responsible are held accountable to prevent future occurrences.

“We call on the international football community to condemn this unacceptable behaviour and support our demand for justice.”