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Super Eagles players stranded in Libya
The National Assembly has condemned the over 18-hour ordeal of the national football team, the Super Eagles, at the Al-Abraq International Airport in Libya, leading to the botched African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
It called for the questioning of the Libyan Ambassador and an apology from authorities over the ordeal, to prevent such occurrences.
Raising the issue during Tuesday’s plenary under Personal Explanation at the Red Chamber, Sumaila Kawu, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, condemned the “inhumane” treatment of the Nigerian players.
Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary, echoed Sumaila’s sentiments, describing the treatment of the Super Eagles as “terrible and condemnable.”
“We do not want a diplomatic row. We call on the ambassador and the authorities to come out and apologise for what they have done to our national team,” he said.
In a separate statement, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, strongly condemned the actions of Libyan officials.
Akpabio, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, described the incident as a breach of the principles of fair play and sportsmanship in international football.
He called for a thorough investigation by the Confederation of African Football Disciplinary Committee and demanded that appropriate sanctions be imposed on those culpable.
At Green Chamber plenary, the House of Representatives called on the Federal Government to invite the Libyan Ambassador to Nigeria for questioning over the incident.
The resolution of the Reps was a sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by the Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Mr Kabiru Amadu.
The House also mandated its Committee on Foreign Affairs and Sports to investigate the incident, while it called on the Nigeria Football Federation to make an official complaint to the Confederation of African Football.
Amadu said, “The House is concerned about the frustrating 18-hour ordeal faced by the Super Eagles of Nigeria at Al-Abraq International Airport in Libya, where they were left stranded on arrival at 14:00hr on Sunday, October 13, 2024, till the team and the contingent departed from the airport, after 18 hours.
“The House is concerned that the team and the delegation were en route to Benghazi in Libya before their aircraft was unexpectedly diverted mid-flight to Al-Abraq, a small Airport typically reserved for hajj operations.
“Despite diverting the flight to a small airport with little or no amenities, the Libyan authorities did not allow the team to get out of the airport or move to their hotel; no access to the internet, no food as the airport was cordoned and the contingent held hostage for 18 hours.”
Contributing to the motion, the member representing Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency of Abia State, Mr Chris Nkwonta, condemned the treatment of the Nigerian team, saying, “This is unacceptable to our national team. We must condemn this and it must not happen again.”
