Nigeria Prepares for Libya Clash in AFCON Qualifiers Amid Key Player Absence

The Nigerian national football team is set to face Libya in a critical Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier. The first leg of the doubleheader will take place on Friday, October 11, 2024, at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. Fans can look forward to watching the match live on AfroSport TV at 5 PM local time.

Super Eagles‘ interim coach, Austine Eguavoen, expressed confidence in his squad despite the absence of star striker Victor Osimhen due to injury. Osimhen sustained the injury during a clash with Kasimpasa goalkeeper Andreas Gianniotis in a recent Turkish Super Lig fixture, which ended in a 3-3 draw. The injury has sidelined Osimhen for both his club, Galatasaray, and national duties.

Addressing the media, Eguavoen stated, “The boys are ready to fight for those three points. It’s a huge miss, but we have other players who can step into his shoes. He’s not here physically, but I am 100 percent sure that he is with us spiritually.” He emphasized the importance of the upcoming match for Nigeria‘s position in Group D.

Despite Osimhen’s absence, Eguavoen remains optimistic, placing his trust in strikers Victor Boniface, Taiwo Awoniyi, Kelechi Awoniyi, among others, to perform against the Libyan team. Nigeria aims to secure victory at home before heading to Libya for the second leg of the clash at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium.

Eguavoen cautioned against underestimating the Libyan team, which currently sits at the bottom of Group D. “They are down, but it doesn’t mean that they can’t rise. We are also going to fight. Our focus is on the home game in front of us,” he added.

The interim coach also addressed misinformation about team selection circulating online, denying rumors of disputes regarding player invitations. “The Nigeria national team belongs to every Nigerian in the world who can play football. Everybody has a chance to serve the fatherland,” he explained. Eguavoen called for public support, noting, “Let people just try and support me and the team because it is for Nigeria and we don’t want any distraction.”