The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has launched an investigation into the distressing treatment of Nigeria’s Super Eagles during their recent trip to Libya, threatening sanctions against those found culpable.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the players’ safety and well-being.
Upon their arrival at Al Abraq International Airport on Sunday, Nigerian officials and players faced an agonizing wait, stranded for over 13 hours without food or access to basic amenities. Disturbing images of team members sleeping on the floor and benches sparked outrage and drew attention to the players’ precarious situation.
In a statement released on Monday, CAF condemned the prolonged delay as “disturbing” and confirmed that it is in contact with both Libyan and Nigerian authorities. “The matter has been referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board for investigation and appropriate action will be taken against those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations,” the statement read.
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Nigerian authorities expressed alarm over the situation, with the Minister of Sport Development, John Enoh, stating that the team was essentially trapped in a “hostage” scenario.
“The team have succinctly stated that they have been unattended to for upwards of about 15 hours since arrival, with no food, no accommodation, left in a mosquito-infested environment,” Enoh said. “For now, our primary concern is the safety of the members of our national team.”
In response, the Libya Football Federation (LFF) denied any intent to sabotage the Nigerian team’s arrival.
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They attributed the delay to logistical challenges and assured that their actions were not in line with their values.
“There are no grounds to accuse the Libyan security teams or the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately orchestrating this incident,” the LFF stated, expressing hope for a resolution based on goodwill and mutual respect.
The Super Eagles were eventually cleared to leave Libya and are expected to return to Nigeria shortly, though concerns linger regarding their treatment. The Nigerian government has summoned the Libyan envoy to address the issue, indicating the seriousness of the matter.
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