Nigeria is angry with Libya over the bad treatment it meted out to Nigerian Super Eagles players who were in that country to participate in the second leg match in the ongoing African Cup of Nations Football competition.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who made the position of Nigeria known today, October 15, condemned Libya authorities for subjecting the Super Eagles players to road journey, which she said is most dangerous and totally not advisable because of the current situation in the country.
The team left Nigeria on Sunday to Libya for its return match but had their flight diverted to an innocuous airport far away from the venue of the match. The implication of the diversion will now be another three hours of road travel to the main venue of the match, not minding the risk of road travel in Libya , considering the situation of the war-torn country.
Dabiri-Erewa said that the safety of Nigerian players is paramount to the country, and was optimistic that the Ministry of Sports and the NFF will advise appropriately.
The NiDCOM boss, in a statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, called on CAF to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves.
Already, the players, the pilots and others on board the flight had been stranded and subjected to inhuman treatment at the airport for over 13 hours without water, food, rest and other means of communication.
“The team was delayed at an airport in Libya for more than 13 hours without any tangible reason”
The Super Eagles flight was redirected air Bourne on Sunday and they were required to travel by road to their destination.
However, there was no provision made for them by the Libya authorities and all efforts to make alternative provisions by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) were frustrated.
Dabiri-Erewa appealed to the Super Eagles to remain calm why the Nigerian Football Federation will decide the next line of action.
