The Senate on Tuesday, called on Libya to issue an apology to the Nigerian government for the mistreatment of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s senior men’s football team, on Monday.
This followed the condemnation of the incident by Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who also demanded an investigation into the matter and appropriate sanctions against Libya.
During a personal explanation, Senator Ismaila Kawu raised concerns about the ill-treatment of the Super Eagles by Libyan authorities and the country’s football federation. He expressed regret that the actions not only endangered the lives of the players but also jeopardized other members of the delegation.
Kawu urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to draw Libya’s attention to the potential diplomatic repercussions of such behavior.
Earlier, Akpabio, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, condemned the conduct of the Libyan officials, calling it a “stark reminder of the disregard for human dignity and the lack of respect for international norms.”
He further stated that the mistreatment of the players was unacceptable and violated the principles of fair play and sportsmanship that are fundamental to international football competitions.