AFCON 2025: Nigeria’s Super Eagles fly to Libya for crucial qualifier vs Knights after last-minute travel change

The Super Eagles of Nigeria departed for Libya on Sunday morning, ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matchday 4 clash against the Mediterranean Knights, Soccernet.ng reports.

Nigeria secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Libya at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday courtesy of a late Fisayo Dele-Bashiru strike.

The Super Eagles face the same opponents in Benina on Tuesday in a matchday four clash of the qualifying series.

The Super Eagles’ chartered flight left Uyo early on Sunday and made a brief stopover in Kano before continuing to Benghazi.

Originally, the Super Eagles were scheduled to land in Tripoli and then undertake a two-hour road journey to Benghazi.

However, that plan was abandoned to spare the players and officials the strain of additional travel.

Libya will host the Super Eagles at the 10,000-capacity Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, located just 10 kilometers from Benghazi. The crucial match is set to kick off at 8 PM Nigerian time on Tuesday.

This fixture is the second leg of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, with Nigeria looking to maintain their unbeaten run in the group, having won two and drawn one of their previous three encounters.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Cape Verdean official Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine to referee the match.

He will be assisted by his compatriots Djêry Gomes Lopes and Jorge Santos Fonseca Aritson as assistant referees. Burkina Faso’s Hamidou Diero will serve as the fourth official.

Somalian Amir Abdi Hassan has been named match commissioner, while Malian Dramane Dante will act as the referee assessor. The security of the event will be overseen by Algerian official Rachid Medjiba.

The highly anticipated match between Libya and Nigeria will take place on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, with a kick-off at 8 PM local time.