President Bola Tinubu has warmly welcomed the Super Eagles of Nigeria back to the country after their harrowing experience in Libya.
The team was subjected to inhuman treatment at a Libyan airport, prompting the Nigerian Football Federation to withdraw from a scheduled match.
Tinubu’s reaction was made public through a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The presidency condemned the treatment, stating it was “unsportsmanlike and inhumane” and called for a thorough investigation by the Confederation of African Football.
Tinubu’s statement read, “The harrowing experience of the national football team at the hands of their hosts and the Libyan authorities prompted the Nigerian Football Federation to withdraw the Super Eagles from the scheduled match on Tuesday,” said Onanuga.
Tinubu also commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Sports Development for their swift response in ensuring the players’ safe return.
He applauded the players for their resilience, saying, “President Tinubu applauds the players for keeping their spirit alive despite the excruciating ordeal in Libya”.
“The Nigerian leader recognises football’s unifying power in bringing nations and people together and views the treatment of our citizens as unsportsmanlike and inhumane, a stark contrast to the spirit of the game he deeply appreciates. He fervently calls on all lovers of the round-leather game and administrators to unite and work collaboratively to prevent and overcome such incidents in the future,” Onanuga added.
This isn’t the first time President Tinubu has shown support for the Super Eagles. Earlier this year, after their AFCON 2023 tournament he hosted the team at the Presidential Villa, rewarding them with national honors, plots of land, and flats in the Federal Capital Territory.
