Super Eagles forward, Moses Simon, has told Nigerians never to worry about the October 15 AFCON 2025 qualifier between Libya and Nigeria at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Benghazi, assuring that the three time African Champions are well prepared for the Mediterranean Knights hostility, Completesports.com reports.
“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.
‘This will be good for us. So we will have to play neutral. We are really, really mentally prepared for them,” Simon, who plays his club football with Nantes of France said.
Simon, whose delivery saw Tom Dele-Bashiru turn in the match winner for Super Eagles with three minutes left on the clock reflected on the game decided at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
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“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,” he said.
“Overall, the most important thing is that we got the victory we needed and no player was injured. So, that was good for us”.
Asked if the Super Eagles anticipated a tough and resilient game from the Libyans, Simon answered in the affirmative.
“Yes, yes, we saw it coming. We knew about it and we prepared for it.”
By Sab Osuji in Uyo
12 Comments
I just watched the highlights now. But what really surprised about the whole thing is the negative comments I have reading about Iwobi on this forum. Iwobi was so good in that game that he had several assists and Great shots that would resulted into goal. I don’t really understand if some do watch football games at all. We too dey complain in This country haba. Comros just beat Tunisa, England lost to Greece at home yet the world didn’t come to an end. Stop expecting too much from this team, many teams have improved especially ok Africa, we should take it easy with our players abeg.
I agree with you on this, a team that had more than 10 good scoring opportunity and were unlucky to score just one in the encounter yet some people keep talking nonsense. Is it easy to play good football against a team that came with a solid defensive formation. Some people just need to leave this players and coaching crew alone Biko.
@Tancosport and Mr. Nice, God bless you. Iwobi played very well. If Boniface has converted one or two of Iwobi assists they won’t be saying rubbish.
sharap! mumu, if wunu has nothing to say den why not just zip it! werey pmsl!
dem win one game wit slim margin against libya whish is de last team on earth an dis onyiocha commot dey yan opata – idiot. gerrout!
Your name said it all. Another foolish comment from Yaba left tenant.
Sorry, your last paragraph no join. Taking it easy on the players landed us in the bottom of 2026 world cup qualifiers after MOST OF THE SAME people missed out on Qatar 2022. They either shape in or ship out. If we tolerate the display of yesterday (when they used only one pattern of play throughout – benefit of having a local coach who is unidirectional), when Rwanda or Lesotho (forget South Africa) decide to play 11 defenders at home in the world cup qualifiers next year WHEN OUR REMAINING MATCHES ARE MUST WIN, these same crop of players will still be unstuck.
No be their mates be Senegal who even changed coach? They are comfortable with mediocrity because our local coaches love “trusted lackeys” who won’t put effort to impress anyone.
Super Eagles Marching On
Tom Dele-Bashiru’s low stab past the hapless opposition goalkeeper in the second half proved the difference between the Super Eagles and Libya in Nigeria’s slim 1:0 win in yesterday’s Afcon qualifier.
This was the most claustrophobic performance I ever witnessed from the Super Eagles.
They just couldn’t create enough Lebensraum where they could breathe and breed out compelling goals scoring chances.
It was all choked out there.
When Nigeria did create or find space, only Dele-Bashiru could attack it with enough ferocity, composure, conviction and soft-skill to bulge the back of the net.
Libya did exceptionally well to crowd their key defensive areas and create a traffic of players that the Super Eagles strikers struggled to navigate through.
Eguavoen’s changes in the second half did pay dividends as the Super Eagles roamed into more dangerous Libyan territory in bountiful numbers and with bad intentions; even Captain Ekong could be spotted lurking and loitering in and around Libyan box 18.
Owing that it was experimental 4-3-3 formation that the team employed, I am willing to cut Eguavoen some slack.
As the Super Eagles grew into the game, particularly in the second half, cracks started to created and inroads found in Libyan defensive infrastructure.
Top coaches in club football – Klopp, Guardiola etc – spare no expense in complaining how difficult it is to play a team set up only to defend in massive numbers like Libya did. It is a frustrating to watch as it is to play against.
Yesterday’s match should be assessed with Libyan negative strategies in mind, not to mention their goalkeeper’s time wasting shenanigans.
To grind out a win under such annoying circumstances should deserve a measure of praise, particularly coming from the proactive action by Coach Eguavoen of making substitutions and tweaking the formation to achieve victory.
According to José Mourinho, there are no ugly wins, a win is a win.
But the Super Eagles have to learn how to create space and attack it with intent like Dele-Bashiru did in such circumstances.
It was a win, slim and ugly, but nonetheless valuable 3 points which served to couple a fresh carriage onto the train of healthy results powering the Super Eagles on the rails to Afcon qualification.
Well done!
Wetin be this ,Biko speak wetin we go understand
E no tire u?
Mr. Deo, thank you for your accurate analysis.
The players should not be be selfish with the ball when it is clear you don’t have a scoring chance. Pass the ball to your teammate.
What happened to shooting outside the box?