ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria's soccer players said on Monday they will boycott their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Libya, after being stranded overnight at Al Abraq Airport in what the team captain described as “mind games.”Authorities in Libya, however, denied it was sabotage. The first leg, which Nigeria won 1-0 on Friday, involved similar accusations of sabotage from the Libya team. All to play mind games.”“As the captain, together with the team, we have decided that we will not play this game,” he added. The Libyan team accused its opponent of maltreatment ahead of the first leg, an allegation the Nigerian Football Federation denied. Nigeria’s sports minister John Owan Enoh said he had instructed the soccer federation to send a formal complaint to the continent's soccer body.

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria’s soccer players said on Monday they will boycott their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Libya, after being stranded overnight at Al Abraq Airport in what the team captain described as “mind games.”Authorities in Libya, however, denied it was sabotage. The first leg, which Nigeria won 1-0 on Friday, involved similar accusations of sabotage from the Libya team. Team captain William Troost-Ekong said the plane had been due to land at Benghazi Airport but was diverted at the last minute to Al Abraq some 220 kilometers (136 miles) away. The Libyan team accused its opponent of maltreatment ahead of the first leg, an allegation the Nigerian Football Federation denied. Nigeria’s sports minister John Owan Enoh said he had instructed the soccer federation to send a formal complaint to the continent’s soccer body.

For starters, it is important to note that like Nigeria, Libya has one of Africa’s largest oil reserves. So what the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Libya’s state oil company, does is to import fuel at market prices and sell it to citizens at a heavily discounted rate. Fuel smuggling in Libya is worth at least $5bn and incidentally, Russia, the same country where oil products are imported into the North African country is said to be the beneficiary of black market fuel. He was quoted as far back as January 2024 by his media office as saying that the fuel subsidy system was “a drain on the state budget”. This is where Libya has found itself today but a section of the media in Nigeria prefers to paint a rosy picture to unsuspecting Nigerians.

Libyan fans are agitated with the poor treatment allegedly received by the Mediterranean Knights on arrival in Nigeria for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie against the Super Eagles. The Mediterranean Knights captain, Faisal Al-Badri alleged poor treatment from their Nigerian hosts. Al-Badri claimed that Nigerian officials frustrated what should have been a smooth travelling experience for the Libyan team. The supporters, according to Libya News Today, now want the Football Federation to take strict measures in the second leg. AFCON 2025 qualifier: Libyan fans demand strict measures against Super EaglesDo you want to share a story with us?

‎Libya’s state National Oil Corporation (NOC) reported today that its Al-Sarir Oil Operations Company succeeded in maintaining five oil wells, two of which returned to security and safety levels, and restored production in the B22 and B15 wells at a rate of more than 1,000 barrels per day each.‎‎Well B22 had been out of service for technical reasons since the company took over operating duties from the previous operator (foreign partner) in late 2020.‎‎Al-Sarir also completed the maintenance of three other wells without the need for the use of rigs, with the aim of reducing associated water production, resulting in an increase in oil production by 2,000 barrels per day from wells B14, B24 and B46.‎

Photo by Icon SportWith the Super Eagles now sitting at the top of Group D, they head into the return leg in Benina with renewed confidence. Super Eagles expect hostile crowd in LibyaEkong noted that the team’s experience from the first encounter will help them approach the Libyan side with better preparation. “I think we were superior today, and the experience we gained from the first game should prepare us better for the second game, “Ekong said. “We won't have our lovely fans here to cheer us on, so it is going to be very hostile there”. The Super Eagles maintain their position at the top of the group with seven points, one point clear of Benin Republic, who recorded a 3-0 victory over Rwanda in the other group fixture.

Stanley Nwabali, the goalkeeper for the Super Eagles, made fun of Libya’s national team for their idle antics during Friday’s Group D AFCON 2025 qualifier in Uyo. Nwabali used a laughing emoji on his X account to comment in pidgin on the Libyans’ time-wasting strategies:“Who come wise pass? ,” which translates to mean ‘Who is now the wisest’, referring to how the Libyans tried to play smart by time wasting. The Eagles’ next scheduled travel is to Benghazi, where they will play Libya in the second leg on Tuesday, October 15. After three games, Libya is at the bottom of Group D with just one point, while the Eagles lead with seven points.

Despite the hard-fought victory, here are four key takeaways from the Nigeria vs Libya game in Uyo. The Super Eagles need to start right off the blocksIt took the Super Eagles nearly ten minutes to settle into the game and register a shot on goal. The Victor Boniface puzzle needs to be solvedBayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface struggled to make an impact and looked isolated for most of the game before being substituted for Taiwo Awoniyi. Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi have been mainstays in the Super Eagles midfield for about seven years, but their recent performances have been more underwhelming than impactful. 🙌🔥In only his fifth international appearance for Nigeria, the midfielder has already netted two crucial goals for the Super Eagles.

A Dele Bashiru 87th minute strike was enough for the Nigeria’s Super Eagles to claim a 3 point against the Mediterranean knight of Libya. Dele who was introduced in the second half converted a long cross from Moses Simon in the late minute to seal the victory. The Super Eagles will now face Libya in the return leg on October 15. Details later…

Moses Simon – 8/10The Nantes winger was a constant threat, tormenting the Libyan defense. Victor Boniface – 5/10The Bayer Leverkusen striker had a decent game but struggled to break through the Libyan defense before being substituted. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru – 7/10The Lazio midfielder replaced Iwobi and grabbed the winning goal just minutes before the end of regular time. Taiwo Awoniyi – 3/10The Nottingham Forest striker replaced Boniface but was effectively shut down by the Libyan defense. Raphael Onyedika – 3/10The Club Brugge midfielder came on for Ndidi but didn’t make much of an impact.

Prime Minister Robert Abela has called on Mediterranean leaders not to forget their “moral imperative to advocate for a two-state solution” with regards to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Abela was speaking at a Med9 summit in Cyprus, where he reiterated Malta's call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza. On the Mediterranean’s specific challenges, Abela welcomed the creation of an EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, stating that this shows EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s recognition of the region’s realities. Abela emphasised that Libya must be an integral part of these efforts, stating that Libya is a key partner in tackling migration challenges. He stressed that there can be no solution to Europe’s migration challenges without addressing the Mediterranean challenges.

A dominant performance by the Super Eagles was capped off by a well-taken goal by the Lazio midfielder who had replaced Alex Iwobi in the 74th minute. Nigeria vs Libya: How it happenedNigeria's interim head coach, Austin Eguavoen, has made two changes to the lineup that faced Rwanda last month. The Super Eagles' first threatening attempt occurred in the 28th minute when Frank Onyeka's shot was parried by the Libyan goalkeeper, Murad Al Wureeshi. Nigeria vs Libya: Super Eagles maintain top spotThe Super Eagles have solidified their standing in the table, with Friday's victory marking two wins in their last three matches..Nigeria began their campaign with a 3-0 home victory over Benin, followed by a 0-0 draw with Rwanda just days later. Photo by IMAGOThe Super Eagles will next face Libya in a reverse fixture on Tuesday, October 15, at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium.

How to watch the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification match between Nigeria and Libya, as well as kick-off time and team news. Nigeria are set to welcome Libya for a qualifying match for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo this Friday evening. Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch, including TV channel, streaming details and more. How to watch Nigeria vs Libya online - TV channels & live streamsIn the US, the CAF World Cup Qualification match between Nigeria and Libya is available to watch and stream online live through Fubo, Fanatiz and beIN SPORTS. 10/13/18 Nigeria 4-0 Libya Africa Cup of Nations Qual.

Nigeria made it seven points from three games in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying as they claimed a 1-0 victory over Libya in Uyo on Saturday. William Troost-Ekong, 21. Captain William Troost-Ekong leads a team that includes Fulham's Alex Iwobi, AC Milan forward Samuel Chukwueze — who was a substitute today — and Atalanta star and Ballon d'Or nominee Ademola Lookman. Sevilla winger Chidera Ejuke could earn his first Super Eagles cap since the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon if he plays next week. Libya won the first meeting 2-1 on this day 20 years ago, but the Super Eagles have taken four victories since then, most recently in 2018.

As expected, the first half was the Super Eagles against the 27-year-old Libyan goalkeeper Murad Al Wuheeshi and his defence as the home team went all out for goals from the onset. As early as the 10th minute, Alex Iwobi was denied by the goalkeeper as the Super Eagles took the game to the visitors. In the 22nd minute, Ademola Lookman’s low cross from the left was superbly cut off by the outstanding Libyan shot stopper with several Super Eagles lurking to wreck havoc. Iwobi was again denied by the agile Libyan goalkeeper in the 39th minute, when his shot from inside the box was somehow kept out. Super Eagles Starting XI vs Libya (4–3-3) Nwabali – Calvin Bassey, Ekong (Captain), Bruno Onyemaechi, Ola Aina- Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi – Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, Moses Simon