Super Eagles interim coach Austine Eguavoen is relieved over the team’s win against Libya in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier. 

Nigeria battled hard to break down the stubborn Mediterranean Knights in front of a packed home crown in the Southern city of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and needed an 86th-minute goal to win the encounter on Friday.

After the game, Eguavoen praised his boys for getting all three points at stake courtesy of a Fisayo Dele-Bashiru strike.

“It’s a huge, huge relief for me and the boys. Three points were important to get.
We got it. I expected us to score more goals but for some reason, we didn’t find the back of the net early enough because of the tactics the Libyans deployed.
But overall, we’re very happy. Three points are very important. We still maintain the first position in the log,” he said.

READ ALSO: [AFCON] Dele-Bashiru Breaks Stubborn Libyan Defence To Earn Win For Nigeria

‘I  Was Feeling Bad’

The coach admitted, “I  was feeling bad, but again, I was also happy that the boys were on top of the game, especially the second half and towards the last 20 minutes of the game. They kept pushing, possessing the ball very well, but mindful of the rear as well because the Libyans had a clear strategy for the way they wanted to play – to try to get the ball and then go forward as quickly as possible. Both emotions were high. When the go came, it was a huge, huge relief.

“I thought we could have scored more, but the tactics are already deployed. I don’t want to see what park the bus like many coaches say but they defended in numbers in front of their goal.”

Nigeria have seven points from three games in the qualification race for the 2025 AFCON. They will travel to Libya for the return leg of the encounter on Tuesday. A win is enough to hand the Super Eagles a spot for the continental football showdown.