Libya Nightmare best describes the Super Eagles’ recent experience in Libya. Amid denials from the Libyan authorities, the pilot who flew the Nigerians there has revealed more. Now, the Nigerian Senate wants an apology and Senate President Godswill Akpabio wants appropriate sanctions…
Senate demands Libya apology over Libya nightmare
The Senate on Tuesday asked Libya to apologize to the Nigerian government. This request followed the ill-treatment of Nigeria’s senior football team, the Super Eagles, on Monday.
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, condemned the act. He also demanded a probe and penalties for Libya over the matter.
During personal explanations, Senator Ismaila Kawu raised concerns about the Super Eagles’ treatment by Libyan authorities and the football federation. He condemned the unwarranted hostilities from Libya.
Kawu noted that these actions endangered the lives of the players and other members of the delegation. He urged the Federal Government to inform the Libyan government about the negative diplomatic consequences of such actions.
Akpabio wants appropriate sanctions
Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, has condemned the mistreatment of the Super Eagles. The Nigerians were in Libya on Sunday for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier. The match was to hold today. The team returned home yesterday, after over 16hours harrowing experience at the Libyan airport.
Akpabio expressed outrage through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh. He stated, “This unfortunate incident is a stark reminder of the disregard for human dignity and the lack of respect for international norms.”
The reported mistreatment is unacceptable, he says. It breaches the principles of fair play and sportsmanship essential to international football.
Akpabio stands in solidarity with the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the entire Nigerian football community. He emphasized that the Senate will monitor the situation closely. The rights and dignity of Nigerian citizens must be protected. No form of disrespect will be tolerated, Akpabio added.
Moreover, the Senate President wants the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to do a thorough investigation on the matter. He called for appropriate sanctions against those responsible. Libyan authorities must take immediate action to address this incident. Accountability is crucial to prevent future occurrences. Akpabio urged the international football community to condemn this behavior. Support for justice is essential. The “Libya Nightmare” must not continue.
Pilot speaks on the Libya nightmare
The pilot who flew the Nigerian team has shared details about the ongoing controversy. The Libyan authorities unexpectedly diverted the flight to a remote airport, Al-Abraq, instead of the intended destination, Benghazi. This diversion has caused a stir between Nigeria and Libya.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) alleges that the diversion was intentional. However, the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) denies this claim. The LFF attributes the situation to a logistical issue. In a video interview posted by Sports Journalist Pooja Media, the pilot clarified that Libyan authorities made the decision to divert.
“The flight plan was to land at Benghazi, Benina, and we had the approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority,” he stated. However, as they began their descent, they received new instructions. “They instructed us to divert to Al-Abraq, which is almost 150 miles away.” This unexpected change raised safety concerns.
“In aviation, we calculate fuel for our destination. This kind of diversion may breach safety,” he explained. He asked for clarification multiple times, but the authorities told him it was a directive from the highest level. The pilot documented all communications and can provide them as evidence.
The conditions at Al-Abraq presented significant challenges. “There is no ILS, no air navigation approach. We had to make a visual landing, which is difficult at night,” he said. His previous experience in the region proved vital for a safe landing. “Thank God we made it safely,” he concluded.
Leave feedback about this