AFCON 2025: Nigeria never apologised to Libya – Minister

The Federal Government of Nigeria has denied claims that it apologised to Libya after the ill-treatment experienced by the Super Eagles team between the past Sunday and Monday.

Recall that Libya Observer in its reports had said that Nigeria apologised to Libya over the challenges faced by the football team upon their landing in the country for the 2025 AFCON qualifier match.

However, Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in reaction to the claim said at no point did Nigeria or the Super Eagles apologise for their ordeal.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the minister said such reporting was a misrepresentation of the phone correspondence with Libya’s East-based Government’s Foreign Minister. 

He said, “The fact of the matter was that the CDA of the Government of National Unity was summoned to the Ministry to seek an immediate end to the unfortunate incident.

“However, not much diplomatic headway was made during the meeting with the Acting Charge of Affairs, Imad Mohammed Matooq Aboud, as they insisted that it was not under the jurisdiction of Tripoli, which they represented, but that of the Eastern Government in Benghazi.

Abdulkadir said their decision prompted the minister to take immediate action by contacting the Foreign Minister of the Eastern Government, Abdelhadi Lahweej, to intervene and ensure that the detention and unnecessary delay ended.

According to him, it was immediately after that conversation with the minister that the aircraft was allowed the necessary permits to fly.

Also aviation fuel was immediately accessed and the Eagles team left Libya for Nigeria.

“Even when Lahweej insisted on rehashing the untruth about the treatment of Libyan players in Nigeria, Amb Tuggar once again corrected the misinformation about the mistreatment of Libyan players during the Nigerian encounter. 

“He did not apologise or regret the treatment of Libyan officials and players because the account was inaccurate,” he added.