Nigeria Stands Firm: Foreign Minister Denies Apology To Libya After Super Eagles’ Detention Drama

Nigeria Stands Firm: Foreign Minister Denies Apology To Libya After Super Eagles’ Detention DramaNigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has clarified the situation regarding the recent detention of the Super Eagles in Benghazi, Libya. This clarification comes in response to a misleading report from The Libya Observer, which claimed that Nigeria had apologized for the Super Eagles’ detention, which lasted over 16 hours from Sunday, October 13, to Monday, October 14.

In a statement from the minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Communication Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, it was clarified that the alleged apology was a misinterpretation of a phone conversation between Tuggar and Libya’s Eastern-based Foreign Minister, Abdelhadi Lahweej.

Instead of issuing an apology, Nigeria expressed its dissatisfaction with the treatment of its national team and called for a prompt resolution to the matter.

The statement also indicated that the Government of National Unity’s CDA was summoned to the Ministry to discuss the incident; however, little diplomatic progress was made during the meeting with Acting Charge of Affairs Imad Mohammed Matooq Aboud, who stated that the issue was under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Government in Benghazi, not Tripoli.

In response, Minister Tuggar promptly contacted the Foreign Minister of the Eastern Government, Abdelhadi Lahweej, urging him to intervene and ensure the end of the detention. Tuggar then personally engaged with the Benghazi administration, which resulted in the Super Eagles’ departure from Libya on Monday afternoon after the necessary licenses were issued.

Additionally, Minister Tuggar addressed misinformation regarding the treatment of Libyan players in Nigeria, correcting the record without issuing an apology, as those claims were found to be inaccurate.