The Federal Government (FG) has condemned the treatment of Super Eagles players in Libya as nothing but despicable.
The FG on Monday through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) issued a statement to hit out at Libya.
“The Chairman/CEO of NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has condemned the treatment meted out to the Super Eagles team by Libyan authorities ahead of its second leg match slated for Tuesday in the country,” the statement read.
Dabiri-Erewa noted that traveling by road in Libya is most dangerous and totally not advisable because of the current situation in the country.
The team which left Nigeria on Sunday to Libya for their return match 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 the safety of Nigerian players is paramount to the country and was optimistic that the Ministry of Sports and the NFF will advise appropriately.
She also called on the Confederation of African Football (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,” Dabiri-Erewa lamented on behalf of the FG.
The Super Eagles flight was redirected air borne on Sunday and they were required to travel by road to their destination.
However, there was no provision made for them by the Libyan authorities and all efforts to make alternative provisions by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) were frustrated.
“Dabiri-Erewa has appealed to the Super Eagles to remain calm while the NFF decides the next line of action,” the statement signed by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun read.
