Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, known as the “Pillar of Sports in Africa,” has strongly condemned the ill-treatment suffered by the Super Eagles of Nigeria during their visit to Libya for the second leg of the CAF AFCON 2025 qualifiers. The team, including the coach and technical crew, was left stranded at the airport for over 11 hours without access to food, WiFi, hotel accommodations, or other necessary logistics.
Kalu believes that these actions were deliberately designed to frustrate the Super Eagles and undermine their energy and enthusiasm ahead of the match. He called for swift action from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to sanction Libya for its disrespectful treatment of the Nigerian team.
“CAF must make that decision as quickly as possible to serve as a deterrent to any African country that behaves in such an irresponsible manner,” Kalu emphasized. He expressed his outrage, stating, “These things must be put to a halt forthwith. This dishonorable display of lack of class and character must stop. I condemn this horrible disregard for fellow humans.”
Kalu recalled similar tactics used against Enyimba Football Club of Aba, a team he fiercely defended in the past. He asserted, “CAF must award the three points to the Super Eagles of Nigeria immediately.”
As a former Governor of Abia State, Kalu has a notable history in sports, having led Enyimba FC to win the CAF Champions League Cup consecutively in 2003 and 2004—a record that remains unbroken as the only governor to achieve this feat with a state club in Nigeria. His passionate advocacy for the rights of athletes underscores his commitment to sports integrity across Africa.