Fulham manager Marco Silva has joined in the widespread condemnation of the controversy surrounding the treatment of the Super Eagles of Nigeria by the Libyan Football Federation (LFF).
The Premier League manager said he is concerned about the mistreatment of Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and their teammates.
During a pre-match press conference ahead of his 150th game as Fulham’s coach, Silva commented on the fitness of Iwobi and Bassey for the upcoming match against Aston Villa following the harrowing experience they endured in Libya.
“It’s a situation that brings mixed feelings,” Silva told reporters. “When players represent their national teams, we all expect them to return healthy and ready to compete for us. Moreover, we hope they can perform at a high level, maintain their fitness and momentum, and, most importantly, enjoy playing for their countries.”
“This experience was neither professional nor normal, and it’s certainly not something that should be part of football,” Silva added. “They are back with us now. The first two days were tough for them as they recovered from everything, but I am confident they will be ready to play.”
Silva’s comments come after the Super Eagles were left stranded at Al Abraq Airport without food and necessary resources.
This led to the Super Eagles’ forfeiture of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification clash.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has since issued a strong statement condemning the circumstances that played and has referred it to its disciplinary committee to judge.