Super Eagles forward Moses Simon has urged Nigeria to prepare for a tough test when they face Libya in a key Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifier on October 15. The game, which will take place at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Benghazi, is crucial for both teams, with Nigeria seeking to extend their lead at the top of Group D.
After a narrow 1-0 victory in the first leg, Simon stressed that Libya’s Mediterranean Knights will be looking to capitalize on home advantage, and the Super Eagles must be ready for a challenging encounter.
“They showed us a bit of what to expect there in Libya. But we’re mentally prepared for their hostility. We know they will want to come out to win,” Simon said.
Simon emphasized that Nigeria would need to stay focused and remain calm, despite the hostile environment, and play the match on neutral terms:
“This will be good for us. So we will have to play neutral. We are really, really mentally prepared for them.”
In the first leg, Nigeria secured a late 1-0 win at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, with Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scoring the decisive goal just four minutes before the final whistle. Reflecting on the hard-fought victory, Simon acknowledged that it was a nervy affair but stressed the importance of securing the result.
“Yeah, it was a nervy game. We all knew the game was going to be difficult. But we’re prepared for it. There’s no more minnows in the game,” Simon noted.
Despite Libya’s defensive approach in the first leg, the Super Eagles managed to break through late in the game, and Simon underlined that securing the win without injuries was key:
“Overall, the most important thing is that we got the victory we needed and no player was injured.”
Nigeria currently lead Group D with seven points, and a win in Benghazi could all but confirm their qualification for AFCON 2025, with two games still to play.