Nigeria dispels apology rumours over Super Eagles detention in Libya 

Nigeria dispels apology rumours over Super Eagles detention in Libya 

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja 

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally rejected claims circulated by the Libya Observer which suggested that the Nigerian government had apologized to Libya following the detention of the Super Eagles during their recent visit.

In a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media and Communication Strategy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the Federal Government revealed the concern regarding misinformation aimed at manipulating political narratives and sowing dissent among football stakeholders.

On October 15, 2024, the Libya Observer ran a report that mischaracterized the phone communication between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and his counterpart in the Eastern Government of Libya, Abdelhadi Lahweej. 

Tuggar described the erroneous portrayal as a deliberate effort to distort facts surrounding a diplomatic incident.

“The report from the Libya Observer is a clear case of misinformation intended to gain political leverage. It misrepresents our correspondence and undermines the seriousness of the diplomatic conversations we have been having to resolve the issue,” he stated.

The incident in question stems from the Super Eagles’ detention while in Libya, leading Tuggar to summon the Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) of the Government of National Unity, who attended a meeting at the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Minister narrated that during this meeting with Acting Charge of Affairs, Imad Mohammed Matooq Aboud, it became evident that no substantive progress could be made as Aboud insisted that the matter fell outside the jurisdiction of the Tripoli-based government, placing it within the realm of the Eastern Government located in Benghazi.

In response, Tuggar took swift action by reaching out directly to Foreign Minister Lahweej, urging for an immediate resolution to the detention issue. “After discussions with Minister Lahweej, we secured the necessary flight permits and aviation fuel to allow the Super Eagles’ return,” Tuggar explained.

The statement added that despite both parties agreeing to de-escalate tensions, the dialogue was not without its disputes. Lahweej allegedly reiterated claims regarding the treatment of Libyan players in Nigeria, a narrative Tuggar firmly countered.

 “He (Tuggar) did not apologize or express regret for the treatment of Libyan officials, as the claims were inaccurate.

Lahweej proposed a joint statement, which the Ministry rejected because it erroneously misrepresented the facts of the incident. 

“Above all, the federal government of Nigeria only shares a diplomatic relationship with the government of the National Accord and not with the Eastern government,” the statement further noted.

In conclusion, the federal government of Nigeria has expressed significant displeasure regarding the treatment of its officials and football team during this incident. As such, Tuggar announced, “We call on the Confederation of African Football to urgently ensure that its Disciplinary Board investigates the matter and imposes appropriate sanctions based on its statutes.”