Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has condemned the treatment meted out to the Super Eagles team by Libya authorities ahead of its second leg match slated for Tuesday in the country.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Eagles were scheduled to play a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Libya but were left stranded at the airport, leading to the decision that they will no longer participate in the qualifier.
“The team which left Nigeria on Sunday to Libya for its return match had their flight diverted to an innocuous airport far away from the venue of the match.
“The implication of the diversion will now be another three hours of road travel to the main venue of the match, not minding the risk of road travel in Libya, considering the situation of the war-torn country,” she said in a statement issued on Monday by NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
Dabiri-Erewa said the safety of Nigerian players is paramount to the country, and was optimistic that the Ministry of Sports and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will advice appropriately.
She also called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves.
“Already, the players, the pilots and others on board the flight had been stranded and subjected to inhuman treatment at the airport for over 13 hours without water, food, rest and other means of communication.
“The team were delayed at an airport in Libya for more than 13 hours without any tangible reason”
“The Super Eagles flight was redirected air borne on Sunday and they were required to travel by road to their destination.
“However, there was no provision made for them by the Libya authorities and all efforts to make alternative provisions by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was frustrated.”
Dabiri-Erewa appealed to the Super Eagles to remain calm why the Nigerian Football Federation will decide the next line of action.
