Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, formally apologized to Libya’s Parliament-designate government following an unfortunate incident involving the Libyan national football team. The incident occurred before Libya’s scheduled Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Nigeria.
In a phone call with Abdel-Hadi Al-Hwaij, Libya’s Foreign Minister for the Parliament-designate government, Tuggar expressed deep regret over the event and assured the Libyan government that it was not intentional. Tuggar emphasized the Nigerian government’s respect for the Libyan people, describing them as the “descendants of Omar Al-Mukhtar,” and praised their dignified response, noting that they did not retaliate in kind.
For his part, Al-Hwaij reassured his Nigerian counterpart that the Nigerian football delegation was being well treated. Libya had provided full logistical and technical support to ensure the Nigerian team and their aircraft could safely return home.
The Libyan Minister highlighted the longstanding and deep ties between the Libyan and Nigerian people, urging that external actors should not be allowed to damage these brotherly relations.
The incident, though not fully disclosed, took place just before a crucial AFCON qualifier match between the two nations. While it could have sparked tensions, the swift exchange of apologies and reassurances has helped avoid a diplomatic fallout. Football has long served as a unifying force in Africa, bringing nations together even in the face of occasional miscommunications or logistical challenges.
Despite Libya’s ongoing internal divisions, the Parliament-designate government has been actively engaged in maintaining Libya’s diplomatic relations with its African counterparts. Nigeria, a key ally in the African Union, has supported Libya’s various governments through periods of political instability.
