National Teams
AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: Libya coach admits underdog status against Nigeria
By Wale Mustapha
Libya’s national football team head coach, Nasser Al-Hadiri, has expressed concerns over his team’s preparations ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Nigeria this week.
The Mediterranean Knights are set to face the Super Eagles in a double-header, but Al-Hadiri revealed that his squad will be missing several key players due to injury, suspensions, and even a reported boycott by some players.
These challenges, according to the Libyan coach, have left the team struggling to put together a solid tactical plan for the crucial matches.
“We have not yet reached the required level of readiness to face a strong team like Nigeria,” Al-Hadiri said during a recent press conference.
“The team was not in good shape before I took over, and the absence of several key players in our initial training sessions has made it difficult to develop a comprehensive tactical strategy for the game.”
Libya will meet Nigeria at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday. The return leg will be held four days later in Benina, Libya.
Despite the challenges, Al-Hadiri remains hopeful that his team can put up a strong performance, although he acknowledged that Nigeria, with their rich footballing history and star-studded squad, are the favorites.
The Super Eagles, three-time AFCON champions, are expected to approach the games as heavy favorites, making Libya’s task even more daunting.
