National Teams
2025 AFCON Qualifier: Augustine Eguavoen relieved by slim win over Libya
By Saheed Afolabi
Nigeria head coach Augustine Eguavoen has expressed his relief following the Super Eagles’ narrow 1-0 victory against Libya on Friday.
The decisive moment came in the 86th minute when Fisayo Dele-Bashiru pounced on a precise cross from Moses Simon, finding the back of the net and leaving the Mediterranean Knights’ goalkeeper stranded.
Despite the win, Eguavoen was less than thrilled with Libya’s defensive approach, which saw them park the bus for most of the match, stressing that the Libyan side had relied heavily on a negative style of play, consistently sitting deep and defending in numbers.
“They defended in numbers in front of their goalkeeper. They are a good side, they should play. When we scored, they came out,” Eguavoen stated during the post-match press conference.
The coach, however, noted that he had expected more goals from his team and was not entirely satisfied with the outcome. “I expected us to score more goals. Overall, we’re happy, we’re still top of the group,” he added.
The victory was a crucial one for the Super Eagles, who now head into the second leg in Benghazi with a slim advantage. Eguavoen reflected on the moment of relief when the goal finally came: “It was a huge relief for me and the boys. When the goal came, it was a big relief.”
With the win, Nigeria remains at the top of Group D in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers, but Eguavoen will be hoping for a more assertive performance when they face Libya again in the return leg.
