By Damilare Adeleye
Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has strongly condemned the Libyan authorities for holding the Nigerian Super Eagles and their officials hostage at Al Abaq Airport.
This incident occurred after the Nigerian aircraft, originally en route to Benghazi, was diverted to another city over a two-hour drive from the intended destination, just an hour before landing.
The Minister expressed deep concern over the poor treatment of the team, particularly as they were in Libya for an international engagement.
The Minister said the government will not tolerate any form of disrespect or mistreatment toward Nigerian players and officials.
He emphasized that the safety and welfare of the Super Eagles and their officials remain the government’s top priority.
Senator Enoh 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.
The Minister further called on the Libyan authorities to respect international sporting relations and the fundamental rights of athletes and officials traveling for official purposes.
Also, Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has berated the treatment of Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team who were were stranded for over 12 hours at Al Abaq Airport in Libya.
The team was originally scheduled to land in Benghazi ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier but was redirected to Al Abaq, where they have been held without explanation.
The captain stated that the team had decided not to proceed with their scheduled match, citing safety concerns.
“We will NOT play this game,” he declared, urging the Nigerian government to intervene and rescue the stranded team.