Libya coach Nasser Al-Hadhiri has voiced concerns regarding the team's preparedness as they approach their crucial AFCON 2025 double-header against Nigeria's Super Eagles.
The Mediterranean Knights will face the Super Eagles as guests on Friday, October 11, at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, with the reverse fixture scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, at Martyrs of Benina Stadium.
Highlighting the impact of key player absences during training sessions, Al-Hadhiri emphasised the need for the squad to overcome these challenges in order to compete effectively against a formidable opponent like Nigeria.
Challenges as Libya prepares to confront Super Eagles
Speaking to the press, Al-Hadhiri lamented the absence of several key players during the initial training sessions in Tripoli, noting that the team is facing a considerable lack of physical preparation ahead of their trip to Nigeria.
“We have not yet reached the required readiness to face a strong opponent the size of Nigeria,” he said as per Libya Akhbar.
“The team suffers from the absence of a number of players in the first training sessions, which led to difficulty in imposing a comprehensive tactical vision for the match. This lack of preparation represents an additional obstacle for the team that needs to exert double efforts to achieve a positive result away from home, and return with at least a draw point to renew the hopes of qualification.”
Libya currently sits at the bottom of Group D, having earned just one point from two matches. They began their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Rwanda but subsequently suffered a 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic in their second game in Ivory Coast.
On the other hand, the Super Eagles currently lead the table with one victory and one draw. Nigeria secured a 3-0 win against Benin in Uyo and played to a goalless draw with Rwanda in Kigali.
