Nigeria are bidding to take another step towards the Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2025 when they face Libya in a qualifying match in Uyo.
The Super Eagles took claimed points from their opening two matches in Group D in September as interim coach Augustine Eguavoen made a solid if unspectacular start to his time in charge of the national team.
With their qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals a little in the balance, these AFCON preliminaries have allowed Nigeria to regain some positivity in the latter part of what has been a difficult year since they lost the final of the 2023 tournament to the Ivory Coast back in January.
The Sporting News is tracking the match against Libya and will provide score updates plus a fulltime report below.
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Nigeria vs. Libya live score
| 2nd Half | Goal scorers | |
| Nigeria | 0 | |
| Libya | 0 |
Confirmed lineups:
Nigeria (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. Stanley Nwabali (GK) — 2. Ola Aina, 5. William Troost-Ekong, 21. Calvin Bassey, 13. Bruno Onyemaechi — 4. Wilfed Ndidi, 8. Frank Onyeka — 15. Moses Simon, 17. Alex Iwobi, 7. Ademola Lookman — 22. Victor Boniface
Libya (5-4-1, right to left): 12. Murad Al Woheshi (GK) — 21. Sanad bin Ali, 2. Mohammed Alshiteewi, 4. Ali Youssef, 25. Magdy Arteeba, 3. Subhi Al Dhawi — 6. Suhaib Sulaiman Shafshuf, 23. Badr Hassan, 14. Muhand Madyen, 8. Nour Al Din Ahmed Mohammed Al Qulaib — 9. Ahmed Ekrawa
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AFCON 2025 qualifying Group D standings
Nigeria started the day in first place in the standings after the opening two matchdays.
| Pos | Team | GP | Pts | W-D-L | GD |
| 1. | Nigeria | 2 | 4 | 1-1-0 | 3 |
| 2. | Benin | 2 | 3 | 1-0-1 | -2 |
| 3. | Rwanda | 2 | 2 | 0-2-0 | 0 |
| 4. | Libya | 2 | 1 | 0-1-1 | -1 |
Nigeria lineup, team news and full squad for Libya match
Star striker Victor Osimhen does not expect to be fully fit until the end of October, so he is not in the squad for this month’s games. That means the pressure is on Victor Boniface to perform: the 23-year-old has scored six goals in nine appearances for Bayer Leverkusen in all competitions this season, but he is yet to find the net for his country after eight senior matches.
Defender Olisa Ndah is also absent, but interim coach Eguavoen otherwise has a strong squad at his disposal. Captain William Troost-Ekong leads a team that includes Fulham’s Alex Iwobi, AC Milan forward Samuel Chukwueze, and Atalanta star and Ballon d’Or nominee Ademola Lookman.
Bright Osayi-Samuel is back after missing the September internationals, while Sevilla winger Chidera Ejuke could earn his first Super Eagles cap since the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Nigeria starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Nwabali (GK) — Aina, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Onyemaechi — Ndidi, Onyeka — Simon, Iwobi, Lookman — Boniface
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye, Amas Obasogie
Defenders: William Ekong, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Benjamin Tanimu
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika, Alhassan Yusuf, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze, Chidera Ejuke, Ademola Lookman, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, Moses Simon, Taiwo Awoniyi
Nigeria vs. Libya stats, head-to-head record
These teams have met five times previously. 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.
| Nigeria wins | Draws | Libya wins |
| 4 | 0 | 1 |
