By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The ill-treatment meted out to Nigeria’s senior football team, Super Eagles by the Libyan authorities may have triggered a diplomatic spat between the two African nations as the Nigerian government on Monday summoned the Libyan Chargé d’Affaires in Abuja.
The summon was to register Nigerian Government’s displeasure over the ill treatment of her national team by Libyan authorities.
Prompt News reports that the flight that conveyed the Nigerian delegation was diverted from Benghazi International airport to Al Abraq Airport in the remote part of Libya.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles were scheduled to honour Tuesday’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) return leg match against Mediterranean Knights of Libya in Benghazi.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar disclosed this to journalists earlier on Monday after meeting with Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja,
Tuggar who said that the meeting with the Libyan Chargé d’Affaires over the issue in Abuja will take place at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has however assured that the federal government has been in touch with both the Libyan authorities and the handlers of the Super Eagles, especially the Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
The Minister described the players’ experience as most unfortunate but disclosed that the Nigerian delegation will not have to suffer more as the matter is being handled.
Said he: ” You know, it’s a good thing that when they landed in Kano they actually even got some water, some cartons of water otherwise even water would have been a problem.
“But it suffices it to say that we have established contact with them. We’ve sent people from the mission to go there. They are in touch with the delegation.
“Now I am also communicating directly with the Chairman, and since last night, we’ve been on the phone with the chargé d’affaires because Libyan doesn’t have an ambassador here, so we’re in touch with the chargé d’affaires,
“I am heading back to the ministry now, where we have summoned the chargé d’affaires, the Libyan chargé d’affaires. This issue has to be resolved as quickly as possible. So we’re on top of the situation.”
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