The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has condemned the treatment meted out to the Super Eagles team by Libyan authorities ahead of their second leg match slated for Tuesday in the country.
In a press release signed by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of NiDCOM in Abuja, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, she noted that traveling by road in Libya is most dangerous and totally not advisable because of the current situation in the country.
The team, which left Nigeria on Sunday to Libya for their return match, had their flight diverted to an innocuous airport far away from the venue of the match.
Dabiri-Erewa said: “The implication of the diversion will now be another three hours of road travel to the main venue of the match, not minding the risk of road travel in Libya, considering the situation of the war-torn country.”
She said the safety of Nigerian players is paramount to the country and was optimistic that the Ministry of Sports and the NFF will advise appropriately.
She also called on CAF to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves.
Already, the players, the pilots, and others on board the flight had been stranded and subjected to inhuman treatment at the airport for over 13 hours without water, food, rest, and other means of communication.
“The team was delayed at an airport in Libya for more than 13 hours without any tangible reason,” the NIDCOM boss lamented.
Reports said the Super Eagles flight was redirected airborne on Sunday, and they were required to travel by road to their destination.
However, there was no provision made for them by the Libya authorities, and all efforts to make alternative provisions by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) were frustrated.
Dabiri-Erewa appealed to the Super Eagles to remain calm while the NFF decides the next line of action.
