The Nigerian Senate has strongly condemned the mistreatment of the Super Eagles by Libyan authorities during their recent visit for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The Senate has called on the Libyan government to issue an apology to Nigeria for the “shameful conduct,” which it said violated both human dignity and international standards.
During a plenary session on Tuesday, Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin labeled the treatment of the Nigerian team as “terrible and condemnable,” stressing that sports should foster unity, competition, and brotherhood among nations.
Senator Jibrin emphasized that Libya’s actions were a mistake and demanded a formal apology from the Libyan authorities.
“The way our players were treated is both terrible and unacceptable. We are glad this issue has been brought to light, and we expect an apology from Libya,” he said.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio also condemned the incident, describing it as a violation of the principles of fair play and sportsmanship.
Akpabio affirmed that the Senate would closely monitor the situation to ensure the protection of Nigerian citizens’ rights and dignity.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio said, “As Senate President, I stand with the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the entire football community in Nigeria in condemning this unjust treatment. The Senate will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that our citizens’ rights are safeguarded. We will not tolerate any form of mistreatment or disrespect toward our nationals, no matter the circumstances.”
He added, “We call for a thorough investigation by the Disciplinary Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), with appropriate sanctions against those responsible.”
Akpabio also urged Libyan authorities to swiftly investigate the incident and hold those accountable to prevent future incidents. “We urge the international football community to join in condemning this unacceptable behavior and support our call for justice,” he stated.
