The Senate yesterday called on the Libya authority to apologise to the Nigerian government following the maltreatment of the Super Eagles upon their arrival for the second leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
This request came after Senate President Godswill Akpabio condemned the incident and demanded an investigation and punishment for Libya regarding the matter.
The Senate’s resolution followed a Point of Order raised by Senator Sumaila Kawu (NNPP-Kano South), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, who addressed the chamber under Order 42 of the Senate Standing Rules concerning personal explanations.
Senator Kawu expressed his disappointment over the actions of the Libyan authorities and Football Federation, stating that they not only jeopardised the safety of the senior team players but endangered other delegation members.
He urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to highlight the negative diplomatic implications of such actions to the Libyan government.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau (APC-Kano North), who presided over the session, echoed the condemnation, describing the Super Eagles’ treatment as appalling and entirely unacceptable. He emphasised that sports should promote unity and competition, fostering brotherhood among nations on the continent.
“This matter raised by Senator Kawu is of great importance. We seek to avoid a diplomatic dispute and believe this is a mistake that Libya should rectify by apologising to the Nigerian government,” Barau stated.
He reinforced Nigeria’s
standing as a prominent African country, advocating for diplomacy and friendship.
“We call on the Libyan ambassador and relevant authorities to step forward and apologise for their treatment of our national team,” he added.
Senator Akpabio, in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, criticised the actions of the Libyan officials, labelling the incident a shameful display and a blatant disregard for human dignity and international norms.
He asserted that the players’ mistreatment was not only unacceptable but also a violation of the principles of fair play and sportsmanship that govern international football. Akpabio expressed solidarity with the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the broader Nigerian football community, vowing that the Senate would closely monitor the situation to protect the rights and dignity of its citizens.
“We will not tolerate any form of mistreatment or disrespect towards our nationals. We demand a comprehensive investigation from the Disciplinary Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and appropriate sanctions for those responsible,” he declared.
Akpabio further called for the Libyan authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the incident and hold accountable those responsible to prevent future occurrences. He urged the international football community to condemn this unacceptable behaviour and support Nigeria’s demand for justice.
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