Zuwaira Gambo Commemorates Youth-Led Football Tournament Advocating Peace

… FC Yazuzu wins Borno Model Competition with a 3-0 victory

By: Our Reporter

The Hon. Commissioner for the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Borno State, Hajjia Zuwaira Gambo, graced the grand finale of a youth-driven football tournament designed to promote peace and unity in the region. The event, a flagship of the Borno Model initiative, featured teams comprising repented insurgents and local youth, showcasing sports as a powerful tool for reconciliation and community building.

The final match saw FC YaZuzu, representing Hon. Zuwaira Gambo, clinch an emphatic 3-0 victory over FC Gen. Abdullahi Ishaq, which represented the Senior Special Adviser on Security to the Governor. The spirited competition and resounding cheers from spectators highlighted the community’s commitment to fostering harmony and rebuilding trust.

After presenting the championship trophy to FC YaZuzu, Hon. Gambo lauded the youth for their initiative and vision. She remarked, “This tournament transcends football; it symbolizes hope, unity, and a brighter future led by the youth of Borno. Your efforts are a testament to the resilience and potential within our communities.”

She extended gratitude to Gen. Abdullahi Ishaq for his pivotal support and emphasized how the event aligns with Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s vision for youth empowerment and sustainable social development.

The celebrations that followed the trophy presentation underscored the triumph of collective action and served as a poignant reminder of the transformative impact of youth-led initiatives in building a peaceful and unified Borno.

Zuwaira Gambo Commemorates Youth-Led Football Tournament Advocating Peace

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