Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has expressed deep concern over the treatment of Nigeria’s Super Eagles by Libyan authorities ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match. Describing the situation as “despicable” and a breach of diplomatic protocols, she called for urgent action from both the Nigerian government and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to ensure the team’s safety and dignity.
In a statement issued on Monday by NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, and shared via X (formerly Twitter), Dabiri-Erewa condemned the ordeal faced by the Super Eagles. The team encountered numerous challenges upon their arrival in Libya for the return leg of their AFCON 2025 qualifier.
A major concern raised by Dabiri-Erewa was the dangerous road travel that the players were forced to endure, due to the war-torn conditions in Libya. “Traveling by road in Libya is most dangerous and inadvisable due to the unstable security situation,” she emphasized.
The Super Eagles’ journey took an unexpected turn when their flight was diverted to a remote airport far from the match venue, forcing them to undertake an additional three-hour road trip. Dabiri-Erewa underscored the risks posed by this detour, stating that such treatment was unacceptable for a national team on the global stage.
“The players’ safety is our top priority, and it is simply unacceptable that they should face such conditions,” she said, urging CAF to take the matter seriously to prevent future occurrences.
The players and their entourage were also stranded at the Libyan airport for over 13 hours without access to food, water, or rest. According to Dabiri-Erewa, no adequate arrangements had been made by the Libyan authorities to accommodate the team, and efforts by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to make alternative provisions were blocked.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Dabiri-Erewa encouraged the Super Eagles to remain calm and focused on their upcoming match. She assured them that the NFF and the Nigerian government were working on resolving the situation.
“The welfare of our players remains our priority, and we are optimistic that the Ministry of Sports and the NFF will handle this matter appropriately,” she concluded.
The incident has sparked widespread concern, with many calling for improved treatment of African teams during international competitions. Dabiri-Erewa vowed that the push for better protection and dignity for Nigeria’s athletes would continue.
