SportsMall previews Tuesday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Libya and Nigeria, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Nigeria They travel to the Martyrs' Stadium in February with a four-point lead in Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Libya On Tuesday.
Having suffered a narrow defeat in the first leg of their October doubleheader at the weekend, the Mediterranean Knights will be aiming to get one over on the visitors and snap their five-match losing streak in the competition.
Competition preview
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Libya were once again blanked in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as they lost 1-0 against Nigeria when the two nations met at the Agpabio Stadium in Godsville on Friday.
Despite being on the back foot and seeing less than 40% of the ball, the visitors did well to shut out Nigeria. Bisayo Dele-Bashir An 86th-minute strike gave the hosts a deserved victory.
Libya, who started their quest for a place in Morocco with a 1-1 draw against Rwanda at the 11 June Stadium on September 4, sit rock-bottom in Group D, 5 points adrift with just one point from nine points. -Benin placed.
With the result against Nigeria at the weekend, Milutin SradojevicThey have failed to win four of their five matches played in 2024, conceding six goals and scoring four while losing three and drawing one.
Libya's only competitive win came on June 6 when they beat Mauritius 2-1 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, and are currently second in Group D with seven points from four games.
Nigeria, on the other hand, go into Tuesday's return match as one of the 16 unbeaten teams in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, having picked up two wins and a draw in their opening three matches.
The Super Eagles opened the qualifiers with a 3-0 win over Benin on September 7, when Ademola Luqman and Brace Victor OsimhenWin's 78th-minute strike ended a run of three games without a win in all competitions.
However, Nigeria were sent back down to earth three days later as they were held to a somewhat disappointing goalless draw by Rwanda when the two nations clashed at the Amahoro National Stadium.
Following Dele-Bashiru's late strike at the weekend, the three-time African champions took seven points from a possible nine and sit a point above Benin in the Group D standings.
Having managed just one win from five matches prior to this run, the turnaround coincided with the appointment of head coach. Augustine EquawanThe goal in his second stint is to deliver the continental prize in 2025.
Picking up where they left off on Friday, Nigeria will open up a four-point lead in Group D with five straight wins, 9 goals from 2 and four clean sheets against Libya. 1 loss in October 2004.
Libya Africa Cup of Nations Qualification:
Libya Form (All Matches):
Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations Qualification Form:
Nigeria Format (All Matches):
Group messages
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Libya put in a solid defensive display to keep Nigeria at bay for most of the game in Uyo, and we expect the top five to remain unchanged. Sophie Al Mabrouk, Majdi Erdeepa, Ali Yusuf, Mohammed Estevi And Sanath Elkhuri Once again.
Muhannat Eto And Al Nasr is the Benghazi man Badar Hasan We look forward to the task of winning the midfield battle once again Ahmed Grava To lead the attack.
On the back of a third clean sheet on the bounce, expect Equavone to stick with the back four. country life, William Troost-Egong, Calvin Bassey And Bruno Onimechi In Tuesday's fourth consecutive game, the 28-year-old Stanley Nawabali Begins between the sticks.
In the absence of osimhene, Victor Boniface It was a quieter game at the weekend, but Bayer Leverkusen should once again lead the Nigeria attack. Moses Simon and Atlanta ace Lookman.
Wilfried PatienceHaving enjoyed an impressive start to the new Premier League campaign with newly-promoted Leicester City, he should form a three-man midfield. Frank Onyeka And the Fulham man Alex Iwobi.
AC Milan forward Samuel Chukwueze He picked up a hamstring problem against Libya at the weekend and the 25-year-old returned to Italy after withdrawing from the Super Eagles camp.
Libya Probable Starting Lineup:
Al Wuhayshi; Al Mabrouk, Erdeeba, Yusuf, Estewi, Elkhouri; Al Gleib, Eto'o, Hasan, Suleiman; Crow
Nigeria Probable Starting Lineup:
Navapali; Aina, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Onyemachi; Patience, Lord; to destroy; Simon, Lukeman, Boniface
We say: Libya 0-2 Nigeria
Nigeria are enjoying a solid start to the AFCON qualifiers and will fancy their chances against Libya having lost each of their previous five encounters.
The Super Eagles are on the rise under Eguavoen and have put a gap in quality and class between the two nations and we tip them to secure all three points on Tuesday.
Please click here for data analysis of most probable results, scores and more for this match.
