Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh, has expressed strong disapproval over the mistreatment of the Super Eagles in Libya, ahead of their AFCON 2025 Group D qualifier match.
In a statement posted on his verified X account, the minister condemned the conditions the team has faced since arriving in Libya for the reverse fixture of their match against the Libyan national team.
“I strongly condemn the obnoxious treatment meted out to the players and officials of the Senior National Team, the Super Eagles, who arrived in Libya on October 13th for the reverse fixture of the AFCON 2025 Group D qualifiers,” Enoh stated.
According to the minister, the team’s flight, initially en route to Benghazi, was unexpectedly diverted to Al Abaq Airport, several hours away from their intended destination.
The decision to reroute the team, Enoh emphasized, was done without any consideration for their safety.
“On approach to Benghazi, the National Team was diverted to Al Abaq Airport with very scant attention to their safety,” he revealed, adding that he had been working through the night to escalate the matter to the appropriate authorities.
Enoh detailed how he had reached out to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the National Security Adviser, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, CAF Executive member Amaju Pinnick, and other officials. He assured the public that efforts were underway to address the situation.
“I have remained in touch with both the president of the NFF, who is on ground with the team, and the Chairman of Value Jet, the owners of the plane that airlifted the team to Libya,” he said, stressing that “all hands must be on deck to protect our National Team.”
The minister further disclosed that the Super Eagles had been left unattended at the airport for over 15 hours without basic necessities, including food and accommodation.
The team was also reportedly kept in a mosquito-infested environment and cordoned off by Libyan security, unable to leave the airport premises.
“They have been unattended for upwards of 15 hours since arrival, with no food, no accommodation, and kept in a mosquito-infested environment. To say the least, they face an almost ‘hostage’ situation,” Enoh explained, expressing concerns about the team’s safety and psychological well-being.
Given the ordeal, the Super Eagles have indicated their inability to proceed with the match, citing trauma and safety concerns.
Enoh emphasized that the primary concern for the Nigerian government is the team’s safety, not participation in the scheduled match.
“Their safety is not guaranteed, and the team insists they are unable to go ahead with the match—not just because of the trauma and psychological torture, but also out of fear for their safety,” Enoh stated.
In response, the minister instructed the Nigeria Football Federation to file a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football.
He also held a conference call with CAF President Patrice Motsepe and Secretary General Veron Mosengo-Omba, urging them to prioritize the team’s safety over the match.
“While CAF’s concern seems to be getting the team to participate in tomorrow’s match, I have made it clear that the government and people of Nigeria are focused on ensuring the team’s safe return. There must be serious consequences for the Libyan football federation for this unspeakable behavior,” Enoh stressed.
He also commended Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong for his effective communication throughout the crisis, adding that the captain played a key role in keeping the authorities informed.
Enoh concluded by calling for swift action from CAF and warning that the treatment of the Nigerian team must not go unaddressed.
