AFCON: Libya fear Boniface, Lookman, coach aims for draw

By Daily Sports Nigeria on October 7, 2024

Libya coach Nasser Al-Hadhiri is despondent ahead of Friday’s 2025 AFCON qualifying double header against Nigeria, whose first leg holds Friday, October 11 at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

After wildly celebrating the absence of Victor Osimhen and Olisa Ndah due to injury concerns, Libyans and the new team’s handler are losing sleep over stopping the star-studded Super Eagles attack comprising Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta talisman Ademola Lookman.

“The challenge is not only in facing Nigeria, which has world-class attacking names, such as Victor Boniface and Ademola Lookman, but also in facing influential absences among the ranks of the Libyan national team, which may hinder the team’s chances of achieving a positive result in this fateful confrontation,” Libyan outlet Libya Akhbar reported on Sunday.

Speaking in a press conference and cited by Libya News 24, Al-Hadhiri also rued the absence of some key players in their first training sessions in Tripoli, pointing out that the team suffers from a significant lack of physical preparation for the Nigerian trip.

He said, “We have not yet reached the required readiness to face a strong opponent the size of Nigeria. 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.”

Some of the injured Mediterranean Knights include Ahli Tripoli club defender Ahmed Al-Tarbi, Al-Nasr club’s Mohammed Al-Tabbal, and Ali Youssef, who plies his trade with African Club of Tunisia.

Aside from the injured trio, the team will also be without three players of Al-Ahly Tripoli, who refused to return to represent the national team. They are Hamdou El-Houni, Sand Al-Warfali, and Mohamed Al-Munir, which increases the pressure on the coach, who is trying to manage the crisis of the boycotting players amid widespread public criticism.

Libya are bottom of Group D after mustering one point in two matches, battling Rwanda to a 1-1 draw in their opener and losing 2-1 to Benin Republic in the second game in Ivory Coast.

Libyans expect the team to turn their fortunes around against Nigeria, a mission seemingly impossible to both the coach and the head of the Football Association, Abdulhakim Al-Shalmani, who said, “The team was never in good shape before I arrived,” which sparked widespread criticism, especially since the team has been struggling for many years to achieve satisfactory results on the continental stage.

However, Al-Hadhiri remains somewhat optimistic, as he hopes to achieve a positive result in Uyo, saying, “We realise that winning against Nigeria is difficult, but we seek to return with a draw that will be positive for us and restore our hope in competing for qualification.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria, who top the pile with four points from a win over Benin Republic and a barren draw at Rwanda, will aim to consolidate their position. Interim coach Augustine Eguavoen named his squad on Saturday, with the players expected to site on Monday.

The second leg will be held on October 15 at Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi, Libya.

 

Source Punch Ng

Posted October 7, 2024


 

You may also like...
Leicester’s Title-Winning Captain Wes Morgan To Retire End...

Rangers International Thrash Jigawa Golden Stars 3-0

Real Madrid Pre-Season Struggles Continue with Loss to...

Ziyech Urged To Leave Chelsea

Chelsea, Tottenham In Heavyweight Battle

Gombe United’s 3rd home draw displeases Garba

 

Latest News Nigeria beat Cameroon to reach IHF final 27 schools for Doregos Basketball Championship Super Falcons to play France’s Les Bleues in friendly SWAN suspends ban on coverage of Anambra FA activities Joshua among boxing’s top three earners in 2024 Oshoala makes history with Bay FC Nnamani hails team over IHF bright start Flamingos lift U-17 W’Cup Fair Play Trophy Rangers Intl, SWAN partner on sports collaboration in SE LAGOS SWAN CELEBRATES AIG ZONE 2 ON HIS BIRTHDAY AND 30 DAYS IN OFFICE Traders Cup: Upholstery Soccer Team Secured 2nd Win To Advance To Round Two Lagos SWAN Celebrates Oba Akiolu, Iyaloja General, AIG Fayoade

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,142 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,269 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,350 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (43,991 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,931 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,879 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,718 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,289 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,333 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,035 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,489 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,916 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media