By 9jaeye 
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed outrage over the harsh treatment of the Super Eagles during their recent trip to Libya for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier. On October 14, 2024, Tinubu condemned the inhuman treatment Nigerian players and officials endured at Al Abraq International Airport, where they were stranded for over 14 hours without access to basic facilities. The president described the incident as deeply unsportsmanlike and called for immediate justice.
The ordeal occurred when Libyan officials reportedly delayed clearing the Nigerian Super Eagle Team at the airport after they landed for their AFCON qualifier against Libya. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) swiftly withdrew the Super Eagles from the scheduled match due to the team’s fatigue and frustration. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu voiced serious concern for the Super Eagles’ welfare, emphasizing that their treatment was unacceptable and urging CAF to take action.
Diplomatic Response
Following the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Libyan chargé d’affaires to explain the maltreatment. Nigeria’s foreign ministry has urged Libya to take responsibility and ensure such incidents do not recur. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emphasized that sports should foster unity and mutual respect among nations, calling on CAF to investigate the situation and impose necessary sanctions on Libya.
Growing Calls for Justice
The Super Eagles have safely returned to Nigeria, but the incident has ignited widespread calls for justice. Sports fans and officials across Nigeria are demanding that CAF intervene and take decisive action. The government has pledged to prevent future occurrences by engaging diplomatically with the Libyan authorities and strengthening protections for Nigerian athletes abroad. Tinubu praised the resilience of the Super Eagles during the ordeal and urged unity in addressing the issue moving forward.
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