The Chairman/CEO, of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa has expressed strong disapproval of the treatment experienced by the Super Eagles team at the hands of Libyan authorities in anticipation of their upcoming second-leg match scheduled to take place in Libya on Tuesday.
She said it was observed that due to the current situation in the country, it is highly perilous and inadvisable to travel by road in Libya.
She added that the team which left Nigeria on Sunday for Libya for their return match had their flight diverted to an innocuous airport far away from the venue of the match.
“The implication of the diversion will now add three hours of road travel to the main venue of the match, not minding the risk of road travel in Libya, considering the situation in the war-torn country,” she stated.
Dabiri-Erewa 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 or other means of communication.
“However, there was no provision made for them by the Libyan authorities and all efforts to make alternative provisions by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) were frustrated,” she said.
She also called on CAF to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves, as 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.
Dabiri-Erewa has urged the Super Eagles to maintain composure while the Nigerian Football Federation determines the subsequent course of action.
Lantana Nasir
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