Fisayo Ayodele-Bashiru made an instant impact for Nigeria, coming off the bench to score the only goal in their 1-0 victory over Libya at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. The Super Eagles, eager to maintain their momentum in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, dominated the match but faced challenges in converting their chances.
Match Overview
Despite controlling possession for much of the game, Nigeria struggled to find the back of the net. The referee’s decisions were contentious, including a missed penalty call in the first half and a disallowed goal for Ademola Lookman in the second half.
Player Ratings
1. Christian Nwabali 6/10:
The Chippa United goalkeeper had little to do, completing 92% of his passes without making a save as Libya’s attack posed no significant threat.
2. Ola Aina 6.7/10:
The Nottingham Forest full-back was active in the attacking half, contributing nine passes into Libya’s final third and maintaining a high pass completion rate of 95%.
3. William Troost-Ekong 6.7/10:
The Al-Kholood central defender was solid at the back, boasting the highest pass completion rate among outfield players. He won all his tackles but missed a clear scoring opportunity.
4. Calvin Bassey 6/10:
The Fulham defender had a decent outing but struggled with misplaced passes and heavy touches at times.
5. Bruno Onyemaechi 6.2/10:
The Boavista left-back made forward runs but struggled to find accuracy with his crosses, completing only 30%.
6. Wilfred Ndidi 6.8/10:
The Leicester City midfielder was effective at breaking up play and maintaining possession, providing essential cover for the defense. However, he lacked creativity, leading to his substitution for Raphael Onyedika in the 74th minute.
7. Frank Onyeka 5.5/10:
Onyeka’s technical limitations hindered Nigeria’s attacking flow, and he was replaced by Samuel Chukwueze in the 62nd minute.
8. Alex Iwobi 6/10:
Iwobi had a quiet performance, with most of his contributions coming off the ball. He managed only one chance created before being substituted for Dele-Bashiru.
9. Ademola Lookman 7/10:
Lookman improved in the second half, becoming more influential and creating chances, despite a missed opportunity to score.
10. Moses Simon 6.5/10:
Simon, like Lookman, came alive in the second half, contributing to the attack and eventually providing the assist for the winning goal.
11. Victor Boniface 4/10:
The Bayer Leverkusen striker had a frustrating night, failing to link up with teammates and recording no shots on goal before being replaced by Taiwo Awoniyi in the 74th minute.
Substitutes
Samuel Chukwueze 5.5/10:
Chukwueze, who replaced Onyeka, struggled to make an impact during his time on the pitch.
Raphael Onyedika 5.5/10:
Onyedika added some spark to the midfield after coming on but did not significantly alter the course of the game.
Fisayo Ayodele-Bashiru 7/10:
Coming on for Iwobi, Dele-Bashiru quickly showcased his potential, with a scuffed shot before scoring the game-winner just minutes later.
Taiwo Awoniyi:
Awoniyi had little influence on the match, completing only a few passes after his introduction.
Semi Ajayi:
Ajayi came on in the dying minutes to help secure Nigeria’s lead and maintain defensive solidity.
Overall, Nigeria’s performance highlighted their dominance in possession and attacking intent, despite the difficulties in breaking down a resolute Libyan defense. The introduction of fresh legs in the second half ultimately paid off, allowing Dele-Bashiru to clinch a crucial victory that keeps Nigeria on track for AFCON qualification. The Super Eagles will need to build on this performance and improve their finishing to ensure success in the upcoming matches.