Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has denied reports that the country apologized to Libya over the recent detention of the Super Eagles in Libya. According to Tuggar, Nigeria expressed displeasure and disappointment over the treatment of the national football team and demanded a swift resolution ¹.
The detention incident occurred when the Super Eagles arrived in Libya for the 2025 AFCON Group D qualifier. The team was held at the airport for over 20 hours without access to food, water, or communication. This sparked outrage among fans and officials, leading to Nigeria boycotting the return leg of the qualifiers and returning home ¹.
Tuggar clarified that his conversation with Libya’s Eastern-based Foreign Minister, Abdelhadi Lahweej, was misrepresented in The Libya Observer’s report. He emphasized that Nigeria did not apologize or regret the treatment of Libyan officials and players, as the account was inaccurate ¹.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is investigating the incident to ensure appropriate actions are taken. Nigeria has called on CAF to impose sanctions based on its statutes ¹.
Related Developments:
- Senate’s Response: The Nigerian Senate has demanded an apology from Libya’s government over the incident.
- CAF’s Investigation: The Confederation of African Football is investigating the incident to determine the appropriate course of action.
- Nigeria’s Stance: Nigeria has expressed its displeasure and disappointment over the treatment of its national football team and has called for swift action.
