Samuel Chukwueze to miss Libya vs Nigeria with injury

Super Eagles of Nigeria winger Samuel Chukwueze has returned to Italy to rejoin his club, AC Milan, after picking up a hamstring injury on Friday.

The Super Eagles winger came on as a second-half substitute during Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Libya in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier held in Uyo.

However, he did not travel with the team for the return leg in Libya after tests confirmed the injury. Instead, Chukwueze flew back to Italy for further medical checks to assess the severity of the problem.

The Super Eagles departed from Uyo on Sunday, making a brief stop in Kano before flying towards Tripoli. Originally, the team planned to take a two-hour bus journey from Tripoli to Benghazi, where the match will take place at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium. But to avoid travel fatigue, they changed plans and flew directly to Benghazi.

However, their flight was unexpectedly diverted to Al-Abaq Airport, located two hours from Benghazi. Upon arrival, Nigerian players and officials were held at the airport, with no clear explanation given for the disruption.

The Super Eagles aim to secure a second win over Libya after their 1-0 victory in Uyo, where Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scored the decisive goal. The return match is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 pm WAT on Tuesday, October 15.

With little time left, Nigeria will hope to quickly resolve the travel issues and ensure the players are well-rested for the important match.