Nigeria will hope to proceed with their advantageous begin to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers once they host Libya within the third spherical of the qualification sequence on the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday (right now), PUNCH Sports activities Additional reviews.
Whereas the Tremendous Eagles goal to increase their unbeaten begin to the sequence, the Mediterranean Knights will likely be aiming for his or her first win.
The Tremendous Eagles began the qualifiers with a commanding 3-0 victory over Benin Republic earlier than enjoying a goalless draw away at Rwanda a few days later in Kigali.
Austin Eguavoen’s facet is presently prime of Group D with 4 factors and are the one staff but to concede a aim within the group. A doubleheader victory over Libya will see them transfer clear and edge nearer to securing qualification, a state of affairs that the interim coach hopes will play out.
“The boys are able to battle for these three factors. Each second counts, and we all know what it means to get the job executed and over with as early as attainable. It’s going to be powerful, however I feel on the finish of the day, with the boys we’ve within the staff, they’ll ship,” the coach mentioned forward of their encounter with the Libyans.
Right this moment’s assembly between Nigeria and Libya would be the fifth time each international locations face one another, with the Eagles profitable all 4 earlier encounters, together with two video games within the AFCON qualifiers again in 2018.
Eguavoen, whose facet have solely misplaced one among their final 14 AFCON qualifying matches, will hope to take care of their spectacular type and proceed their dominance of the guests.
Tasked with the responsibility of guiding Nigeria to the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco, the interim coach is aware of his facet have to be cautious of the Libyans, who’re but to select up a win of their qualifying marketing campaign.
“They (Libya) are down, nevertheless it doesn’t imply that they’ll’t rise as a result of they’ve a few video games to play. I do know they’ll come right here and battle, and we’re additionally going to battle too. Let’s overlook concerning the previous video games and stay up for the Libya recreation, and our focus is on the house recreation in entrance of us,” he added.
Nigeria head into right now’s encounter with out talisman Victor Osimhen, however do have sufficient high quality within the staff to get the job executed in opposition to the guests, who arrived in Uyo with a brand new coach.
Unimpressed by their first two outcomes and in quest of their first AFCON ticket in 12 years, the Libya FA sacked much-travelled Serbian coach Milutin Sredojevic and shortly after engaged Nasser Al-Hadiri as his substitute.
Libya have been held to a 1-1 draw by Rwanda of their opening match of the qualifiers earlier than dropping 2-1 to Benin of their second match.
The Mediterranean Knights took the lead within the ninth minute from the spot through Faisal Al Badri, however a 12-minute spell within the second half noticed them concede two objectives that value them the sport.
Newly appointed head coach Al-Hadiri will hope his facet picks up beneficial factors in opposition to Nigeria as they give the impression of being to finish their 12-year AFCON absence.
Libya’s final look within the continental showpiece got here in 2012, however they’re presently backside of Group D with one level and should shortly flip issues round if they’re to finish this run.