By Jonathan Ugbal
The Minister of Sports Develoment, Senator John Owan Enoh has condemned the action of Libyan authorities who have held the Nigerian National Football Senior Men team, the Super Eagles and officials hostage at its Al Abaq airport for over 12 hours forcing the players to abandon their next match.
The Super Eagles departed Nigeria for the Benina International Airport in Benghazi, Libya on Sunday ahead of a crunch African Cup of Nations qualifier with the Mediterranean Knights slated for Tuesday, but were diverted to Al Abraq International Airport, which is open to both public and the military and located over two hours away from their destination.
Since their touchdown, they have been kept without food, and shelter over certain claims of “processing,” for over 12 hours, several news outlets reported, late Sunday.
And, Enoh, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Diana-Mary Nsan on Monday morning says the actions of the Libyan authorities are, “completely unacceptable,” and, “violates not only international sporting protocols, but also the principles of respect and hospitality that should be extended to all visiting teams.”
He stated that, “the Nigerian government will not tolerate any form of disrespect or mistreatment toward our players and officials,” while emphasizing that the safety and welfare of the Super Eagles and their officials remain the government’s top priority.
Images from Libya show the players and officials sleeping in the airport.
He assured Nigerians that the Ministry of Sports Development is working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, relevant diplomatic channels, and other stakeholders to ensure the immediate and safe release of the team and their safe passage to their destination.
“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,” Senator Enoh added.
Also, he called on the Libyan authorities to respect international sporting relations and the fundamental rights of athletes and officials traveling for official purposes. He stressed that sports diplomacy is a vital tool for fostering global unity, and such incidents should not be allowed to occur again.
“Nigeria remains committed to strengthening international relations through sports, but it will not shy away from defending the rights and dignity of its athletes and officials when they are unfairly treated,” the statement read.
Furthermore, the Minister expressed his gratitude to the Nigerian public for their patience and support during this challenging time, and reassured everyone that every necessary measure is being taken to bring the Super Eagles safely to their destination.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF in a statement to journalists on Monday said, “players have resolved not to play the match any longer, and NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home.”
The Super Eagles currently sit top of Group D with seven points, while the Mediterranean Knights sit bottom fourth with one point after three games. The first leg of the tie ended 1-0 in favor of Nigeria last weekend in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
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