Sports
NBBF: Of Two Year Suspension in International Competition
NBBF: Of Two Year Suspension in International Competition
By: Dr Lanre Glover
It was a dark Thursday for Sports in Nigeria with the announcement that the President had approved the two year suspension of International Participation by Basketball because of factional disagreement of the actors.
It is clear that the Head of State has been misled by the Minister of Sports and the Sports Ministry. Never in the history of sports in Nigeria has a thing like this happened. Even at the peak of crisis in football the Minister or Government did not go this far.
This is unnecessary Government interference in the affairs of Basketball. With due respect, suspending participation from International Participation is a function of a President of Federation and not that of the Sports Minister or Head of State. It is clearly an OVERREACH.
Men of goodwill in Sports and all presidents of Federations must raise their voice in utter condemnation of this outrageous action.
In what way will suspending international basketball for two years solve the problem of Basketball?
The world is a global village and this action is an embarrassment to the Government and people of Nigeria. The Ministry under the current Minister rather than encouraging active solution to the crisis has been busy promoting the crisis.
The Ministry claimed there are two elections, who opened up the stadium for the parallel election? They deliberately boycotted the election they called, and have taken every step to ensure basketball fails and yet the Minister is calling them to close ranks.
Basketball Federation or National Federation is the property of ‘WE’ the people and not the Government. In most countries, National Federations are independent and Dalong was going to do this towards the end of his tenure.
The Ministry of Sports should be more concerned with provision and maintenance of facilities most of which currently are in terrible state of disrepair rather than concern themselves with mundane issues like trying to control National Federations.
Also Read: Basketball players ask Minister to resolve NBBF leadership crisis
I personally feel very sad for the players who will not have the opportunity to test their strength and skill against international opposition an important ingredient of local preparation. Also the Minister is cutting his nose to spite his face. For sure basketball would have given Nigeria two sure medals at the coming Commonwealth Games.
The current Government’s term ends in about a year so what is the rationale for a two year suspension? For sure the next Minister will definitely vacate this unjustifiable action which smacks of show of strength.
The Minister could have approached this in a more refined way . As the Minister, all he has to do is refuse to approve international trips by Basketball a power he wields, rather than killing a fly with a sledge hammer.
There is a duly elected Federation in place and it will be a travesty of justice to try and put your own handpicked committee in place to organize the local basketball league. It is a recipe for more crises.
To the best of my knowledge, the current minister is the most litigated in the history of sports in this country and if he goes ahead with his plan he is likely to attract more litigation.
There is a need to think of what we must be remembered for in Sports Administration. I think the Nigerian Sports journalists and Sports Administrators must stand up for the truth and be counted.
NBBF: Of Two Year Suspension in International Competition
News
Nigeria did not Apologize to Libya over Super Eagles detention fiasco – Foreign Affairs Minister
Nigeria did not Apologize to Libya over Super Eagles detention fiasco – Foreign Affairs Minister
By: Michael Mike
The Nigerian government has said it at no time offer an apology to the Libya government over actions or inactions of the country’s national team during the fiasco of the detention of the Super Eagles at an airport in the North African country’s airport.
The Nigerian government made the clarification on Wednesday after it was reported in a Libyan media that it gave an apology.
A statement signed by Alkasim Abdulkadir,
the Special Assistant on Media and Communication Strategy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar read: “On October 15, 2024, the Libya Observer published an erroneous report to gain political leverage and cause disaffection amongst continental football administrators and fans.
“The publication by the Libya Observer, which misrepresents the phone correspondence between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and the East-based Government’s Foreign Minister, is a clear case of misinformation. 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.
This 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 ended. After that, the aircraft was given the necessary permits to fly, and aviation fuel was accessed.
Both Ministers agreed that the matter should be de-escalated immediately. 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.
“Lahweej proposed a joint statement, which the Ministry rejected because it erroneously misrepresented the facts of the incident. Above all, the federal government of Nigeria only shares a diplomatic relationship with the government of the National Accord and not with the Eastern government.”
The statement emphasized that: “Nigeria remains unequivocal in expressing its displeasure and disappointment with how the Nigerian Football Federation officials were treated in Libya. It calls on the Confederation of African Football to urgently ensure that its Disciplinary Board investigates the matter and imposes appropriate sanctions based on its statutes.”
Nigeria did not Apologize to Libya over Super Eagles detention fiasco – Foreign Affairs Minister
Nigerian Government Says Super Eagles Was Placed in Detention
By: Michael Mike
The Nigerian government has described the incident with the National team, the Super Eagles in Libya as a detention.
The government in a statement by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Eche Abu-Obe said it received with dismay the news of the unfortunate detention of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) officials and the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Al Abraq International Airport several hours after arriving ahead of Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya.
The statement said: “To resolve the incident, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, initiated a phone call to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Eastern Government, Dr. Abdulhadi Lahweej. This spawned a series of actions, culminating in steps taken to assuage the officials and reassure the players of their safety. Subsequently, the contingent departed for Nigeria.
“In ending the phone conversation, Amb. Tuggar commended the authorities’ actions in resolving the incident, and both Ministers appreciated the amicable resolution of the unfortunate situation in the spirit of African brotherhood.”
Nigerian Government Says Super Eagles Was Placed in Detention
Sports
Nigeria Versus Libya AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: NIDCOM Boss Describes Treatment of Super Eagles Players Despicable, Tuggar Says Situation Being Monitored
Nigeria Versus Libya AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: NIDCOM Boss Describes Treatment of Super Eagles Players Despicable, Tuggar Says Situation Being Monitored
By: Michael Mike
Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has condemned the treatment meted out to the Super Eagles team by Libya authorities ahead of its second leg match slated for Tuesday in the country.
Dahiru-Erewa in a statement signed by the spokesman of NIDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun noted that travelling by road in Libya is most dangerous and totally not advisable because of the current situation in the country.
He lamented that the team which left Nigeria on Sunday to Libya for its return match had their flight diverted to an innocuous airport far away from the venue of the match, noting that the implication of the diversion will now be another three hours of road travel to the main venue of the match, not minding the risk of road travel in Libya , considering the situation of the war-torn country.
Dabiri-Erewa said the safety of Nigerian players is paramount to the country, and was optimistic that the Ministry of Sports and the NFF will advice appropriately.
She also called on CAF to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves.
She decried that already, the players, the pilots and others on board the flight had been stranded and subjected to inhuman treatment at the airport for over 13 hours without water, food, rest and other means of communication.
She said: “The team were delayed at an airport in Libya for more than 13 hours without any tangible reason”
Dabiri-Erewa recalled that the Super Eagles flight was redirected air borne on Sunday and they were required to travel by road to their destination, lamenting that there was no provision made for them by the Libya authorities and all efforts to make alternative provisions by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was frustrated.
She however appealed to the Super Eagles to remain calm why the Nigerian Football Federation will decide the next line of action.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar has said Nigerian government is currently monitoring the situation in Libya.
The Minister said: “I have been closely monitoring the situation involving the Super Eagles in Libya.
“Through the Head of Nigerian Mission in Tripoli, Libya, Amb. Stephen Anthony Awuru, the Mission has maintained contact with the NFF, and the Libyan authorities since last night. Despite efforts, Libyan authorities have not yet authorized the Nigerian Mission’s trip to Bayda City, where the airport is located.”
He added that: “In the meantime, the Head of the Nigerian Community in Benghazi, Mr. Morris Eromosele, arrived at the location at 6 am this morning (Monday) with necessary supplies and internet access. We will continue to follow developments and await a report for further action.“
Nigeria Versus Libya AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: NIDCOM Boss Describes Treatment of Super Eagles Players Despicable, Tuggar Says Situation Being Monitored
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