The Super Eagles of Nigeria secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Libya in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday, October 08, 2024. The lone goal of the match was scored by Victor Osimhen, who converted a penalty in the 32nd minute.
The victory propelled Nigeria to the top of Group D, ahead of Benin Republic, who drew 1-1 with Sierra Leone in their opening match.
The match between Nigeria and Libya was a tense affair, with both teams creating several chances throughout the game. However, it was the Super Eagles who made the most of their opportunities, with Osimhen’s goal proving to be the difference.
The Nigerian striker was brought down in the penalty area by Libyan defender Mohamed El-Monir, and the referee awarded a penalty. Osimhen stepped up and calmly slotted the ball past Libyan goalkeeper Muammar Muftah.
Nigeria dominated possession throughout the match, with the Super Eagles completing over 600 passes compared to Libya’s 300. However, the North African side defended resolutely and made it difficult for Nigeria to create clear-cut chances.
The Super Eagles had several opportunities to extend their lead, but they were unable to convert. Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Samuel Chukwueze all had chances to score, but their efforts were either saved by Muftah or went wide.
Libya’s best chance of the match came in the second half when Mohamed El-Gabbas was played through on goal. However, the Libyan striker was unable to beat Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who made a good save to preserve Nigeria’s lead.
Osimhen’s goal was his 20th international goal for Nigeria. The Napoli striker has been in excellent form for both club and country in recent months and is expected to play a key role in Nigeria’s World Cup qualification campaign.
Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro was delighted with his team’s performance. “I am very happy with the victory,” Peseiro said. “We played well and created a lot of chances. It was a tough game, but we managed to get the three points.
Libya coach Khaled Abdullah was disappointed with his team’s defeat. “We played well in the first half, but we made a mistake and conceded a penalty,” Abdullah said. We need to improve our finishing if we want to qualify for the World Cup.”
Nigeria’s next World Cup qualifier is against Sierra Leone on October 19, 2024. The Super Eagles will be looking to build on their victory over Libya and take a step closer to qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
