2025 AFCON Qualifier: Nasser Al-Hadiri laments Libya’s readiness for Nigeria clash

By Saheed Afolabi

Libya’s head coach, Nasser Al-Hadiri, has expressed disappointment over his team’s lack of preparation ahead of their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Nigeria.

The Mediterranean Knights will face the Super Eagles in a two-legged qualifier, with the first match set to take place in Uyo at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Friday, October 11. The second leg will follow on Tuesday, October 15, at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi.

Al-Hadiri voiced concerns about the team’s readiness to face a top side like Nigeria, citing inefficiencies in their preparation.

“We are not yet at the level required to compete with a strong team like Nigeria,” Al-Hadiri admitted in a press conference in Libya. “When I took over, the team was not in the best shape, and the absence of key players during our early training sessions has made it difficult to implement a solid tactical plan for the match.”

Libya will be without several important players for the upcoming encounter, a setback that could hinder their chances of mounting a serious challenge against the Super Eagles.

In the current standings, Nigeria leads Group D with four points from two matches, while Libya languishes at the bottom with just one point from the same number of games.