Super Eagles’s Inhumane Treatment In Libya Deliberate – Sports Minister

The Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has accused the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately mistreating the Super Eagles during their recent stay in Libya.

The Nigerian players and officials faced a distressing ordeal on Sunday when they were stranded for several hours at a Libyan airport, denied access to food and the internet as they prepared to honor their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights.

The situation raised serious concerns about the treatment of the national team in a foreign country.

Enoh’s comments came two days after the incident during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He expressed outrage over the conditions faced by the Super Eagles, stating that the conduct of the Libyan Football Federation was unacceptable.

It took considerable diplomatic efforts and social media outcry for the Super Eagles to finally be cleared to leave Libya.

He said, while dismissing allegations by the Libyan side that their players were badly treated during their first encounter in Nigeria, “The Port Harcourt Airport where they arrived is one of our best airports. That Port Harcourt Airport, there is no circumstance that will lead to a team having the footballers lie on the floor.

“All these things were created deliberately to create some make belief. If this was an issue, it should have been made an issue there and then.”

When asked if the Confederation of African Football (CAF) was explicit in the whole saga, the minister did not categorically answer the question.

Rather he said the CAF Secretary General did not allow the NFF President an opportunity for communication.

He decried a situation whereby the CAF did not comment for about 13 hours after the Nigerian players were subjected to that harsh treatment in Libya.

The minister said, “I called the attention of CAF yesterday morning to the fact that when that happened and the NFF was on the ground trying to sort out whatever logistics, the CAF Secretary General didn’t allow the President one minute of continuous contact and pressure.

“Yesterday morning, it was about 12, 13 hours. How come 13 hours after our team is so subjected, there is no indication that CAF is in direct communication with the Libyan Football Federation?

“If there are such two authorities in Libya, does Libya offer a good environment for international matches of this nature to be hosted in the country?”