The Federal Government has summoned the Libyan Chargé d’Affaires to give an insight to and resolve the issues that left the Nigerian Super Eagles team stranded at the Al Abraq International Airport, in Libya.
Following Nigeria’s defeat of Libya in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday, a return leg for the ongoing AFCON 2025 Qualifier was fixed for Benghazi, Libya, on Tuesday.
Speaking to State House Correspondents in Abuja, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who described the incident as most unfortunate, said the Super Eagles were in Libya to play a match but had their flight diverted from Benghazi.
“Well, it’s the most unfortunate situation because the Super Eagles flew to Libya to play a match.
“As you know, the Libyan team was here they were supposed to land in Uyo. Instead, they went and landed in Port Harcourt , where they were not supposed to land.
“And now our team has gone to Libya, and somehow the plane gets diverted to a different airport,” he said.
However, the Minister noted that He has been engaging with the Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, and the Charge d’ Affaires on ways to resolve the problem.
Tuggar said the Nigerian government would not allow the team to continue with the game as a result of the hostile reception in the North African country.
“Unfortunately, at that airport, there is no aviation fuel because what we have decided is they need to refuel and get out, we will not be able to allow them to continue. no food.
“It’s a good thing when they landed in Kano they actually even got some water, some cartoons of water, otherwise even water.
“We have established contact with them. We’ve sent people from the mission to go there, representing the mission. They are in touch with the delegation.
” Now, i am also communicating directly with the chairman, and since last night, we’ve been on the phone with the chargé d’affaires because Libya doesn’t have an ambassador here, so we’re in touch with the with the chargé d’affaires, and I’m heading back to the ministry now, where we have summoned the Libyan Chargé d’Affaires.
“This issue has to be resolved as quickly as possible. So we’re on top of the situation, “the Minister affirmed
