Eagles target Knights scalp in Uyo

Nigeria hope to continue their good start to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification when they host Libya in the third round of the qualifying series at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday (today). PUNCH Sports Extra Reports.

While the Super Eagles look to extend their unbeaten start to the series, the Mediterranean Knights are aiming for their first win.

The Super Eagles started their qualifying campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win over Benin Republic before playing a goalless draw away to Rwanda in Kigali a few days later.

Austin Eguavoen's side are currently top of Group D with four points and are the only team yet to concede a goal in the group. A double win over Libya will see them gain a lead and move closer to qualification, a scenario the interim coach hopes will come to fruition.

“The boys are ready to fight for these three points. Every second counts and we know what it means to get the job done as early as possible. It will be tough, but I think at the end of the day they will bring something with the guys we have in the team,” said the coach before the game against the Libyans.

Today's clash between Nigeria and Libya will be the fifth meeting between the two countries. The Eagles have won all four previous meetings, including two AFCON qualifying games in 2018.

Eguavoen, whose side have lost just one of their last 14 AFCON qualifiers, will be hoping to maintain their impressive form and continue to dominate the visitors.

The interim coach is tasked with leading Nigeria to the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco and knows his side will have to be wary of the Libyans, who are yet to win in their qualifying campaign.

“They (Libya) are down but that doesn't mean they can't go up because they still have a few games left. I know they will come here and fight, and we will fight too. Let's forget the past games and look ahead to the game against Libya. Our focus is on the home game ahead of us,” he added.

Nigeria goes into today's match without the great player Victor Osimhen, but has enough quality in the team to be able to hold its own against the guests, who came to Uyo with a new coach.

Unfazed by the first two results and looking for their first AFCON ticket in 12 years, the Libyan Football Association sacked well-traveled Serbian coach Milutin Sredojevic and hired Nasser Al-Hadiri as his replacement shortly afterwards.

Libya had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Rwanda in the opening game of qualifying before losing 2-1 to Benin in the second game.

The Mediterranean Knights took the lead with a ninth-minute penalty from Faisal Al Badri, but 12 minutes into the second half they conceded two goals that cost them the game.

Newly appointed head coach Al-Hadiri will be hoping his side will pick up valuable points against Nigeria to end their 12-year AFCON absence.

Libya's last appearance in the continental premier class was in 2012, but they currently sit bottom of Group D with one point and will need to turn around quickly if they are to end that run.