The Nigerian Minister of Sports, John Enoh, has condemned the treatment of the Super Eagles by Libyan authorities ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier.
The national team, en route to Benghazi for Tuesday’s match, was unexpectedly diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq Airport, a facility primarily used for hajj operations.
The diversion left the players and officials stranded without support from the Libyan Football Federation, which failed to provide transportation or other assistance.
In a statement issued on Monday, Enoh expressed his concerns, describing the situation as “almost a hostage” scenario. He revealed that efforts were underway to address the issue with relevant authorities, stressing that the team’s safety was the top priority.
“I strongly condemn the appalling treatment of the Super Eagles, who arrived in Libya for the reverse leg of the AFCON 2025 Group D qualifiers,” the minister said. “The team was diverted to Al Abaq Airport, hours away from Benghazi, with scant attention to their safety.”
Enoh noted that the team had been left stranded for over 15 hours without food, accommodation, or proper facilities, and were being restricted by Libyan security forces.
He confirmed that he had escalated the matter to top officials, including Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, the National Security Adviser, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“We are in constant communication with the NFF president, who is on the ground with the team, and the Chairman of Value Jet. All hands are on deck to ensure the safety of our national team,” Enoh added.
The Sports Minister has also instructed the Nigeria Football Federation to file a formal complaint with CAF, urging the football body to take serious action against the Libyan Football Federation for the mistreatment of the Super Eagles. “There must be consequences for this unacceptable behavior,” Enoh stressed. “Our primary focus is the safety and safe return of the team.”
