The Nigerian Senate has demanded an apology from Libya over the mistreatment of the Super Eagles during their arrival for the 2025 AFCON qualifier. The Upper Chamber condemned the incident, describing the treatment as a violation of human dignity and international sportsmanship standards.
During a Senate session on Tuesday, October 15, the issue was brought to light through a point of order raised by Senator Sumaila Kawu, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports. Citing Order 42 of the Senate’s standing rules, Kawu expressed outrage over the alleged disrespectful handling of the Super Eagles by Libyan officials.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, also weighed in, criticizing the actions of Libyan authorities. He emphasized that the spirit of sports is meant to foster unity, brotherhood, and healthy competition among nations and that Libya’s actions were contrary to these principles.
“The way our players were treated in Libya is terrible and condemnable,” Jibrin remarked. He reiterated that Nigeria is a leading diplomatic force in Africa, always upholding the values of friendship and cooperation. He urged Libya to take swift action to correct this diplomatic misstep.
“We don’t want a diplomatic row, and we believe this might have been an oversight. However, we call on the Libyan authorities and their ambassador to issue a formal apology to Nigeria and our national team,” Jibrin added, encouraging Libya to acknowledge the incident and rectify it through an official apology.
The Senate’s resolution also calls for a comprehensive investigation into the event, emphasizing the importance of upholding sportsmanship, diplomacy, and mutual respect in international competitions. The apology is seen as a necessary step to maintain good relations between the two countries while ensuring that such treatment is not repeated.
