Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying | Group Stage

Oct 15, 2024 at 8pm UK

11 June Stadium

Libya vs Nigeria

Match preview

Libya came away empty-handed in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, losing 1-0 to Nigeria when the two nations met at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Friday.

Despite being on the back foot and seeing less than 40% of the ball, the visitors held Nigeria at bay for the majority of the game before Fisayo Dele-Bashiru struck in the 86th minute to give the hosts a deserved victory.

Libya, who began their quest for a place in Morocco with a 1-1 draw against Rwanda at the 11 June Stadium on 4 September, are bottom of Group D with one point from a possible nine, five behind second-placed Benin.

Milutin Sredojevic's side have now failed to win four of their five competitive matches in 2024, losing three and drawing one, conceding six and scoring four goals.

Libya's only competitive win since the turn of the year came on 6 June, when they beat Mauritius 2-1 in a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier, and they currently sit second in Group D with seven points from four matches.

Nigeria, on the other hand, go into Tuesday's return leg as one of the 16 teams yet to be beaten in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, having won two and drawn one of their opening three matches.

The Super Eagles kicked off their qualifying campaign with an emphatic 3-0 win over Benin on 7 September, a brace from Ademola Lookman and a 78th-minute strike from Victor Osimhen ending a run of three consecutive games without a win in all competitions.

Three days later, however, Nigeria came crashing back down to earth as they were held to a disappointing goalless draw by Rwanda when the two nations met at the Amahoro National Stadium.

After Dele-Bashiru's late strike at the weekend, the three-time African champions now sit top of Group D with seven points from a possible nine, one ahead of Benin.

The turnaround has coincided with the appointment of head coach Augustine Eguavoen, who has set his sights on winning the continental prize in 2025 in his second spell at the helm.

Nigeria will be keen to pick up where they left off on Friday and open up a four-point lead at the top of Group D, having won five in a row against Libya, scoring nine goals and keeping four clean sheets since a 2-1 defeat in October 2004.

Recent Performance

Libya Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying form:DLL

Libya form (all competitions):DWLDLL

Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying form:WDW

Nigeria form (all competitions):LDLWDW

Injuries and suspensions

Libya

No sidelined players

Nigeria

-- Bright Osayi-Samuel

-- Samuel Chukwueze

Possible starting lineups

Libya possible starting lineup:

Al Wuhayshi; Al Mabrouk, Erteiba, Yusuf, Eshtewi, Elkouri; Al Gleib, Eto'o, Hasan, Suleiman; Krawaa

Nigeria possible starting lineup:

Nwabali; Aina, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Onyemaechi; Ndidi, Onyeka; Iwobi; Simon, Lookman, Boniface