President Bola Tinubu has condemned what he called inhumane treatment meted out to the Super Eagles of Nigeria at a Libyan airport by the country’s football authority.
Following the ordeal, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) withdrew the team from their scheduled match on Tuesday.
The players have been airlifted to return to Nigeria.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu called for a thorough investigation by the Disciplinary Board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) into the incident, urging them to take appropriate action against those responsible for violating CAF’s Statutes and Regulations.
The President commended the swift coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, which ensured the players’ safe return to Nigeria. He also praised the Super Eagles for maintaining their morale despite the challenging circumstances in Libya.
President Tinubu emphasised the unifying power of football, expressing disappointment at the unsportsmanlike treatment of the Nigerian team. He called on football lovers and administrators to work together to prevent similar incidents in the future.