Super Eagles pip Libya 1-0 to stay on top of Group D

Posted : 12 October 2024

Nigeria’s Super Eagles, on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, managed to clinch a vital 1-0 victory over the Mediterranean Knights of Libya to remain on top of Group D in the 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Libyans defended fiercely, blocking shots with their bodies and employing time-wasting tactics that prompted the center referee to issue two yellow cards, one to goalkeeper Murad Al Wahashi of Al-Ahly SC of Libya. He, along with Moustapha, saved Libya from conceding several goals.

While the Libyans focused on preventing Ademola Lookman from making an impact, Simon Moses dribbled brilliantly down the left flank and found an unmarked substitute, Fisayo Dele-Basiru, who expertly beat the Libyan goalkeeper for the crucial goal.

Moustapha nearly scored an own goal for Nigeria due to desperate defending in the 34th minute, but the ball rolled out for Nigeria’s second corner kick. The Libyan goalie fell to the turf, and the referee issued him a final warning for time-wasting.

Nigeria’s goal came just as Benin Republic was celebrating a 3-0 victory over Rwanda at the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny in Abidjan, mistakenly thinking the Nigerian neighbors were moving to the top of the Group D table.

Nigeria leads Group D with 7 points, having scored 4 goals without conceding any, making them the only team in the group with a clean slate. Benin follows with 6 points, scoring 5 goals and conceding 4, placing them second. Rwanda remains third with 2 points, having scored one goal and conceded 4, while Libya sits at the bottom with 1 point, scoring 2 goals and conceding 4.

Nigeria registered 15 shots at goal, with 7 on target, and dominated possession with 64% compared to Libya's 36%. The Super Eagles completed 470 passes to Libya's 278 and earned 6 corner kicks while Libya had none.

The frustration was evident on the faces of the Libyan players when Nigeria scored, especially since their coach had claimed Libya would frustrate Nigeria as Saudi Arabia did to Argentina in the World Cup, managing to secure a draw.

Scorers for Benin Republic included Steve Mounie, who netted in the 7th minute from a Jodel Dossou pass; Andreas Hountondji, who scored the second goal in the 67th minute from a Moumini pass; and midfielder Hassane Imourane, who secured the third goal in the 70th minute.

Augustine Eguavoen has managed the Super Eagles in 25 matches, winning 15, drawing 4, and losing 6. He first led the Eagles in 2005 after taking over from Christian Chukwu, playing to a 1-1 draw with Libya in a friendly match on August 17, 2005.

Currently, the Super Eagles lead the group with a clean slate, having not conceded a goal in two matches while scoring 4 goals and earning 4 points. In contrast, Benin Republic is second with 3 points, scoring 2 goals and conceding 4, while Rwanda is third with 2 points, scoring one goal and conceding one goal.

Nigeria, ranked 39th in the world, should not have difficulty meeting the less-fancied Amalekites in Libya, who are ranked 121st in the world. The four head-to-head meetings suggest that Libya is outmatched.

On August 16, 2005, Libya lost a friendly match 0-1 in Tripoli; lost a CHAN match 0-1 to Nigeria on January 19, 2018; was defeated 4-0 by Nigeria on October 12, 2018; and lost to Nigeria at home 2-3 in the last two matches of the AFCON qualifiers.

This situation illustrates the panic within the Libyan Football Federation, which has brought the Super Eagles to the Mediterranean coast for the second leg on Tuesday, October 15, and at home against Rwanda on September 4, both in the AFCON qualifiers. They lost their World Cup qualifier match against Cape Verde by a lone goal on June 11 after winning 2-1 over Mauritius in Libya in another WCQ, but they played to a 1-1 draw with Togo on March 26 and defeated Burkina Faso at home on March 22.

Nigeria had drawn 0-0 with Rwanda away on September 10 after a sweet 3-0 revenge against Benin Republic on September 7, both in AFCON qualifiers. Nigeria lost to Benin Republic in Abidjan 2-1 in the WCQ on June 10 and played to a 1-1 draw with South Africa in Uyo on June 7, also in WCQ, but lost to Mali 0-2 on March 26 and beat Ghana 2-1 in friendly matches.

Libya has only reached three AFCON finals, hosting in 1982 when they lost to Ghana on penalties (7-6) after a 1-1 draw at full time. That year, Libya beat Zambia 2-1 in the semifinal at Tripoli, while Ghana defeated Algeria 3-2 after extra time in the second semifinal in Benghazi.

Nigeria is a veteran of AFCON games with 18 appearances, winning the title three times in 1980, 1994, and 2013. They also won silver four times in 1984, 1988, 1990, and 2000 and bronze medals seven times in 1976, 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2010.

Referee Godfrey Philip Nkhakanangae has a controversial status that CAF did not resolve before appointing him to officiate the match in Uyo, as he was suspended for four months last year for poor officiating during an Airtel Top 8 Cup match between Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers in Malawi.

Nigeria will play Libya in the second leg on Tuesday at 8 PM Nigerian Time at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benina, Benghazi, Libya. On the same day, Rwanda will host Benin Republic at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali at 5 PM Nigerian Time.

In matches decided today, Guinea defeated Liberia 1-0; Mozambique and Eswatini played to a 1-1 draw; Zambia and Chad also played to a goalless draw; Madagascar and Gambia ended in a 1-1 tie; Cameroon beat Kenya 4-1; Uganda defeated South Sudan 1-0; Egypt won 2-0 against Mauritania; and South Africa thrashed Congo 4-0.

Super Eagles pip Libya 1-0 to stay on top of Group D

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