Nigeria vs. Libya ended 1-0 in favour of the Super Eagles in the first leg. Return match is on October 15.
Nigeria earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Libya in Uyo on October 11. This win brings Nigeria’s points to seven from three games in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. Consequently, the Super Eagles now sit at the top of Group D with 7 points. Benin Republic follows with 6 points, while Rwanda has 2 and Libya has 1.
Throughout the match, Libya spent most of their time defending in their half. Their strategy aimed to disrupt Nigeria’s flow and spoil their plans. Clearly, the visitors intended to play for a draw, and they executed this strategy effectively for much of the game. However, Nigeria struggled with finishing, and a questionable offside call denied Ademola Lookman a potential goal.
In the 86th minute, substitute Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scored from a cross by Moses Simon. This goal sparked jubilation in the stands and marked Nigeria’s second win in three AFCON 2025 qualifiers under interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen.
Looking ahead: Nigeria vs. Libya rematch
Looking ahead, the two teams will meet again in Benin on Tuesday for matchday four of Group D. in today’s game, Eguavoen made crucial adjustments to the Super Eagles’ attack to cover for Victor Osimhen’s absence. Specifically, Victor Boniface, Ademola Lookman, and Moses Simon led the offensive line. This match was crucial as Nigeria aimed to secure a strong position in the Africa Cup of Nations 2024.
Before the match, Eguavoen assured fans of necessary changes to the squad. In fact, Lookman and Boniface both started in Nigeria’s previous two games against Benin Republic in Uyo and Rwanda in Kigali. Meanwhile, Simon, who came off the bench in those matches, replaced Samuel Chukwueze in the starting lineup.
Team Composition and Strategy
In today’s match, Stanley Nwabali retained his position in goal. Meanwhile, the defensive line included Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Calvin Bassey. In midfield, Eguavoen selected Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, and Alex Iwobi to anchor the team for the three-time African champions. Ultimately, these adjustments aimed to enhance Nigeria’s performance in the ongoing qualifiers.
Leave feedback about this