Super Eagles Prepare for AFCON Qualifier Against Libya as Full Squad Assembles

All 23 Super Eagles players invited for Friday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Libya have arrived in Uyo, Nigeria. The team, which is preparing for the crucial encounter set to take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, is now complete, according to reports from PUNCH Sports Extra.

The Sevilla duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidera Ejuke were the last to join the camp on Wednesday morning, right after the team’s initial training session on Tuesday evening. Other players like Udinese’s Maduka Okoye, alongside Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, and Moses Simon, arrived earlier on Tuesday, joining the early comers to make up the squad.

Nigeria’s interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen, now has the full complement of his players to aim for maximum points against the Mediterranean Knights. The Super Eagles lead Group D, which also includes the Benin Republic and Rwanda, in their bid to qualify for the finals in Morocco next year.

Libya faces a challenging situation, as several key players are unavailable due to injuries and others have declined invitations to join the national team. Despite being at the bottom of the group, the Libyan side, under new coach Nasser Al-Hadhiri, is looking to leverage a draw to keep their qualification dreams alive.

At a press conference, Al-Hadhiri expressed a measured optimism, acknowledging the difficulty of facing Nigeria’s star-studded team yet hopeful for a positive result. “We realize that winning against Nigeria is difficult, but we seek to return with a draw that will be positive for us and restore our hope in competing for qualification,” he stated.

Adding to Libya’s challenges, Akhbarlibya24 reported that three players from Al-Ahly Tripoli—Hamdou El-Houni, Sand Al-Warfali, and Mohamed Al-Munir—have opted out of the national team setup, intensifying pressure on the team’s preparations.

The upcoming fixture is viewed as a critical opportunity for Libya to revitalize their campaign. Following this match, Libya will host Nigeria in the return leg on October 15 at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi, aiming to utilize their home ground advantage and the fervor of local supporters.

On the other hand, Eguavoen remains optimistic about his squad’s capabilities, despite the absence of star striker Victor Osimhen. He has faith that other forwards like Victor Boniface and Taiwo Awoniyi will step up. “The boys are ready to fight for those three points,” Eguavoen declared. “Every second counts, and we know what it means to get the job done and over with as early as possible.”

The Super Eagles coach also warned his team against underestimating Libya’s potential for resurgence in the group standings. “They [Libya] are down, but it doesn’t mean that they can’t rise because they have a couple of games to play. I know they will come here and fight, and we are also going to fight too,” he said.