The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, has accused the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately mistreating the Nigerian Super Eagles during their recent stay in Libya. The Nigerian national football team, along with officials, was stranded for hours at a Libyan airport on Sunday ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights.
Reports revealed that the Super Eagles were denied access to food and internet services, further complicating their travel experience in the North African country. The situation escalated, leaving the team stranded at the airport for an extended period before they were eventually cleared to depart Libya. This followed diplomatic interventions and widespread attention drawn to the issue through social media platforms.
Addressing the ordeal during an interview on *Channels Television’s Politics Today*, Senator Enoh expressed his displeasure with the treatment meted out to the Super Eagles, suggesting that the Libyan Federation acted with deliberate intent to create discomfort for the Nigerian team. He dismissed claims from the Libyan side that their players had been mistreated during their visit to Nigeria for the first leg of the AFCON qualifier, labeling these allegations as fabrications.
“The Port Harcourt Airport where they arrived is one of our best airports. There is no circumstance that would have led to their players lying on the floor. All these claims were manufactured to create a false narrative,” Enoh said during the interview.
The minister also highlighted the Nigerian government’s efforts to resolve the situation both diplomatically and through other channels, ensuring that the Super Eagles could finally leave Libya after the delay.
The incident has sparked concern about the treatment of athletes during international tournaments and raised questions about the conduct of sports bodies in hosting countries. As tensions remain, further diplomatic discussions may be needed to resolve any lingering issues between the Nigerian and Libyan football associations ahead of future encounters.
