Nigeria will take on Libya in a matchday three fixture of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo this Friday evening, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Super Eagles, who lead Group D, will aim to solidify their top spot and extend their unbeaten run, while the Libyans are desperate for their first win of the qualifiers.
After a merry-go-round search for a substantive head coach to replace Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro who left his role in February, Nigeria have managed to find some stability with caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen.
Under Eguavoen’s watch, Nigeria began their AFCON qualifying campaign in impressive style, defeating Benin 3-0 before being held to a goalless draw by Rwanda.
The former African champions kept consecutive clean sheets for the first time since the AFCON and, with four points from two games, they currently top Group D. A victory in this double-header against Libya will all but secure their place at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
That does not appear to be a tall order for a Super Eagles that have won 14 of their last 19 AFCON qualifying games, losing just once.
And with Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface arriving for this clash in top form, Eguavoen will be quietly confident he has the arsenal to shoot down the Meditteranean Knights in Uyo.
Libya, on the other hand, have endured a tough qualifying campaign, drawing 1-1 with Rwanda before losing 2-1 to Benin.
Unimpressed by those results, the Libya FA immediately sacked much-travelled Serbian coach Milutin Sredojevic and shortly after engaged Nasser Al-Hadiri as his replacement.
With Libya boasting one point and sitting bottom of Group D with just one point, facing three-time AFCON winners Nigeria on his debut would not have been top on the wishlist of coach Al-Hadiri.
But he can take confidence in knowing that the Super Eagles are not unbeatable at home with Guinea-Bissau, South Africa, and Congo all claiming victories on Nigerian soil over the past decade.
Even a draw will be an excellent result for the Mediterranean Knights who have not qualified for the AFCON since 2012.
The Super Eagles, over the years, have enjoyed success in this fixture having won all four of their last meetings and keeping a clean sheet in three.
Nigeria claimed a comprehensive 7-2 aggregate victory over the Knights during the 2018 AFCON qualifiers with Odion Ighalo netting a fantastic hat-trick in Uyo.
Eguavoen, who remains in charge after initially being appointed on an interim basis, will be looking to guide the Super Eagles to another win.
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, who is Nigeria’s top-scoring player still active, is unavailable due to injury.
However, coach Eguavoen has capable replacements in Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface and Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi.
Ademola Lookman is arguably Nigeria’s most in-form forward at the moment and the Atalanta attacker will be looking to add to the two well-taken goals he grabbed against Benin last month.
Libya will be missing key players like Ahmed Al-Tarbi and Mohammed Al-Tabbal due to injuries. Ahmed Kraouaa is expected to lead their attack.
Nigeria (3-4-3):
Nwabali; Ekong, Ajayi, Bassey; Aina, Ndidi, Iwobi, Onyemaechi; Lookman, Boniface, Simon
Libya (4-2-3-1):
Al Wuhayshi; Elkouri, Yusuf, Erteiba, Al Mabrouk; Al Badri, Al Shreimy; Salama, Al Khoja, Al Gleib; Krawaa
Competition: CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign
Match: Nigeria vs Libya
Venue: Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo
Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Time: 5 pm (Nigerian time)
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