‘No other African team is close to Nigeria’ — Libya coach accepts defeat ahead of Super Eagles match

The 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers are heating up as the Nigerian Super Eagles prepare to face the Mediterranean Knights of Libya at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

While Nigeria leads Group D, Libya sits at the bottom with just one point, and their head coach, Nasser Al-Hadhirinew, has openly admitted the gulf in class between the two sides.

Ahead of the high-stakes qualifier, Libya’s coach, Al-Hadhirinew, did not shy away from acknowledging the strength of the Super Eagles.

"Nigeria is a team that is sure of qualifying for the Nations Cup. No other African team is close to Nigeria," he said.

With Nigeria undefeated in their first two qualifiers, including a dominant 3-0 victory over Benin Republic, the coach knows his side faces an uphill battle in Uyo.

Nigeria’s current form has made them overwhelming favourites, while Libya, in contrast, struggled in their qualifiers, managing a 1-1 draw against Rwanda and suffering a defeat to Benin.

With Nigeria having a perfect record against Libya in past meetings, Al-Hadhirinew admits that securing a result in Uyo may be impossible.

The coach noted ahead of the first leg in Uyo that the Mediterranean Knights would have to wait until the return leg four days later to stand a chance of stealing a point against the mighty Super Eagles.

While the Mediterranean Knights are targeting at least a draw over the two legs, the Super Eagles are determined to maintain their momentum as they push towards a place in the 2025 AFCON.

Despite the Libyan coach’s respectful words, the Super Eagles must remain focused on delivering another strong performance to keep their qualification campaign on track.

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