Sanction Libya for maltreating Super Eagles, Shehu Sani urges FIFA, CAF

14.10.2024 - 21:59 guardian.ng

Former Senator Shehu Sani has urged the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to impose sanctions on Libya due to the mistreatment of the Super Eagles football team.

The team was stranded in Libya for over 13 hours after their flight was diverted to a remote airport without adequate provisions.In response to the Super Eagles’ ordeal, Sani took to his X platform (formerly Twitter) on Monday, stating, “Libya’s treatment of the @NGSuperEagles is unacceptable and condemnable. @FIFAcom and @CAF_Online must impose serious sanctions on them.”The Super Eagles, who left Nigeria on Sunday, faced an unexpected diversion that required a three-hour road journey to reach their match venue.

The situation deteriorated further as players, pilots, and other personnel were left without food, water, or a place to rest during their lengthy delay at the Libyan airport.Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM, also condemned the treatment of the players, describing it as unacceptable and deplorable.

She stressed the dangers of road travel in Libya and called for immediate action from relevant authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of the Nigerian team.Dabiri-Erewa noted, “The team was delayed at the airport for more than 13 hours without any tangible reason, and efforts by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to make alternative provisions were frustrated.”Meanwhile, the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has issued a statement addressing the concerns raised following the diversion of the Nigerian national football team’s flight ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier (AFCON) in Libya.

Football Super Eagles Diversity Action International county Eagle Nigeria Libya

Despite their inability to play in the last round of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series following CAF’s decision to call off their game against Libya, the Super Eagles have moved up three places in the latest FIFA rankings. In the October World ranking released, yesterday, by FIFA, the team moved to the 36th position from the previous 39th, gaining 1,503.29 points within the period under review. The Super Eagles defeated Libya 1-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo, on October 11, but the return leg of the tie scheduled for Benghazi, Libya on October 15 was called off following the Libyans’ alleged ill-treatment of the Nigerian delegation two days before the game. African football governing body, CAF is expected to rule on the botched game this week. Nigeria’s new FIFA ranking also reflects on the Super Eagles’ position in Africa, as they are now the fourth-best team in the continent, up from last month’s sixth position. Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt are the three leading teams in that order. Argentina, France (second), and Spain (third) are still the leading teams in the world, followed by England (fourth), Brazil (fifth) and Belgium (sixth).

FIFA Ranking: Super Eagles rank 36th worldwide, 4th in Africa

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved up by three spots to place world 36th in the October FIFA ranking.

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