Did you know that Nigeria has won four out of five matches against Libya in the past twenty years? This dominance continued in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on 11/10/2024, when Nigeria clinched a 1-0 victory against Libya in Uyo.
The Super Eagles swooped in for a late win, with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scoring the only goal in the 86th minute. It wasn’t an easy flight, though. Libya’s defence was as tough as a bird’s nest, almost holding out for a draw.
Nigeria now sits at the top of Group D with 7 points from 3 games. They’re flying high in their quest for AFCON qualification. Libya, on the other hand, is stuck at the bottom with just 1 point. They haven’t made it to AFCON since 2012 – that’s a 12-year drought!
Match Highlights
The game was a nail-biter from start to finish. Here’s what went down:
- Nigeria had lots of chances but couldn’t find the net in the first half
- Libya’s goalkeeper, Murad Al Woheshi, made some crucial saves
- An offside call against Ademola Lookman stopped a potential Nigerian goal
- Dele-Bashiru finally broke the deadlock, converting Moses Simon’s cross
Team Lineups
Nigeria went with a 4-2-3-1 formation:
- Goalkeeper: Stanley Nwabali
- Defenders: Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi
- Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka
- Forwards: Moses Simon, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface
Libya opted for a defensive 5-4-1:
- Goalkeeper: Murad Al Woheshi
- Defenders: Sanad bin Ali, Mohammed Alshiteewi, Ali Youssef, Magdy Arteeba, Subhi Al Dhawi
- Midfielders: Suhaib Sulaiman Shafshuf, Badr Hassan, Muhand Madyen, Nour Al Din Ahmed Mohammed Al Qulaib
- Forward: Ahmed Ekrawa
What’s Next?
These two teams will face off again on Tuesday in Benina. It’s matchday four of Group D, and both teams have a lot to play for.
Nigeria will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the group. They’ve only lost once in their last 14 AFCON qualifying matches. Talk about a winning streak!
Libya, meanwhile, needs to pull off a miracle to keep their AFCON dreams alive. They’ll need to find a way to crack Nigeria’s defense and score some goals.
Group D Standings
- Nigeria: 7 points (+4 goal difference)
- Benin: 6 points (+1 goal difference)
- Rwanda: 2 points (-3 goal difference)
- Libya: 1 point (-2 goal difference)
The race for AFCON qualification is heating up. Will Nigeria continue to soar, or can Libya claw their way back into contention? One thing’s for sure – this rivalry is far from over!
