President Bola Tinubu has expressed relief following the safe return of the Super Eagles, who were stranded at a Libyan airport for over 13 hours before their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya. The team returned to Nigeria on Monday amid widespread condemnation of their treatment in Libya, which had gone viral earlier that day.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga released a statement saying:

“President Bola Tinubu, deeply moved by the inhumane treatment endured by the Super Eagles of Nigeria at a Libyan airport, warmly welcomes their safe return to Nigeria.”

The president also called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to investigate the ordeal and hold those responsible to account.

“President Tinubu expects the CAF Disciplinary Board to conduct a thorough investigation and recommend appropriate sanctions against those who wilfully violated the organisation’s statutes and regulations,” the statement added.

The president praised the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Sports Development for their prompt response in securing the safe return of the team. He also commended the Super Eagles for maintaining their composure during the ordeal, describing their resilience as commendable.

Although the Libyan authorities have denied any deliberate mistreatment of the Nigerian team, CAF has confirmed that it will be investigating the incident and taking appropriate action against anyone found culpable.