Libya will be tougher at home says Super Eagles captain

Libya frustrated the Super Eagles until Fisayo Dele-Bashiru late match winner and captain William Ekong has predicted the North Africans will be even tougher nut to crack when both teams clash again Tuesday night in Benina.

Tuesday’s rematch will kick off by 8pm at a packed 10,000-capacity stadium and it will be played on an artificial pitch.

Libya are rooted to the bottom of Group D halfway through the 2025 AFCON qualifying series with only a point and are hard pressed to win in front of their fans to get their campaign back on track.

“Libya will come out fighting, but we want to go there and seal our AFCON qualification,” said Ekong.

“The crowd will be hostile there, they will make it hard for us, but we will be ready.”

The Saudi Arabia-based defender said it was difficult to break down the very defensive Libyans, but was pleased the Super Eagles won the three points at stake in Uyo.

“Libya came to get a point, they played defensively, eight defenders at the edge of their box, they kept us out for a long time,” he said.

“It was an ugly win and it took a lot of time before we scored, but we got the three points and that’s good for us.

“A win is a win and I will take this win.

“We need to be more clinical (in front goal), try to convert half chances to goals.”