In Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the Super Eagles demonstrated their dominance on Friday inside the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, where they defeated Libya 1-0 thanks to a late goal by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
The Libyan defence remained unwavering as the Eagles dominated the game from beginning to end.
Dele-Bashiru, however, finally scored a game-winning cross from Moses Simon, giving them the breakthrough.
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With three wins and one tie, the Eagles have already gained seven points while scoring four goals without giving up any goals.
On Tuesday, October 15, 2024, the Eagles will travel to Benghazi for the second leg.
Stanley Nwabali in goal, Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi in defence, Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, and Wilfred Ndidi in midfield, and Moses Simon, Victor Boniface, and Ademola Lookman in attack comprised the Eagles’ starting lineup.
A Libyan defender headed away a threatening cross from Aina in the third minute.
Ekong headed down a set piece four minutes later, but the Libyan defenders put an end to the threat.
After the Libyans made a sloppy clearing inside the box, Iwobi came dangerously close to opening the score on minute eleven, but the keeper blocked his left-footed drive.
After a risky cross from Simon in the 34th minute, the Libyan keeper punched the ball against one of his own players before it rolled out of danger.
On minute 36, Troost-Ekong gave a terrible pass that the Libyans nearly capitalised on, but the play was stopped for offside.
Iwobi received a ball inside the box with five minutes remaining in the first half, but the custodian blocked his left-footed attempt.
In the first half’s two minutes of added time, Boniface met an Ademola Lookman cross, but his shot drifted out for a corner after slightly deflecting off a Libyan.
The Eagles had a great opportunity early in the second half when Bruno Onyemaechi broke on the left, but his low cross was stopped, causing Boniface to collide with the goalie and causing a delay.
Iwobi had an opportunity to start the scoring in the 56th minute when he was left unmarked inside the box and simply had to head his attempt over the bar.
Iwobi had another opportunity three minutes later, but this time his acrobatic attempt flew over the bar.
Libya launched a counterattack with 20 minutes remaining, but the move was ineffective.
After outpacing his defenders inside the box, substitute Samuel Chukwueze had a chance to put the Eagles ahead, but his shot deflected off the custodian.
A few minutes later, the forward for AC Milan attempted a low shot on the edge of the box, but the goalie recovered brilliantly.
After a brilliant assist from Raphael Onyedika, Lookman felt he had opened the score with seven minutes remaining, but his goal was mistakenly disallowed for offside.
But after 86 minutes, Dele-Bashiru’s header from Simon was eventually enough to reward the Eagles.
The Eagles managed to secure the three points despite the Libyans’ attempts to equalise after the goal.