By Daily Sports Nigeria on November 15, 2024
Nigeria qualified for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco with two games to spare, thanks to Libya’s 1-0 win over Rwanda in Kigali on Thursday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Mediterranean Knights stunned their hosts with an 84th-minute goal from Saad Mohamed to revive their qualification hopes, ultimately cementing Nigeria’s place at the 35th AFCON tournament in Morocco next year.
The Super Eagles were billed to take on the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and needed at least a point to secure their place in the finals, but the job was done before kick-off, thanks to Libya, a team that had put the Nigerian contingent through an unforgettable ordeal in October.
Nigeria, three-time African champions, have now qualified for what will be their 21st appearance at the tournament, which will be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The team recently finished as runners-up at the 2023 edition held between January and February this year in Ivory Coast. The team led by Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro lost 2-1 to the hosts in the final, marking the nation’s fifth agonising final defeat at the AFCON since their first participation in 1963.
They have also finished third on eight occasions.
Nigeria’s three AFCON titles were won on home soil in 1980, 1994 in Tunisia, and 2013 in South Africa.
Libya’s win meant the Super Eagles would only have to play to secure the top spot in the group, with a date against Rwanda still to come at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Monday.
As things stand in Group D, third-placed Rwanda, who have five points, and the bottom-placed Libya, who sit a point below them, still have faint hopes of securing a spot in Morocco 2025.
Source Punch Ng
Posted November 15, 2024
You may also like...
Young Nigerian duo Idahor and Otamitie showing high...
Red Star Punished For Racist Insults To Ibrahimovic...
Man Utd make worst league start for 28...
Osimhen agreed two-year Napoli renewal — De Laurentiis...
Super Eagles Star Emmanuel Dennis’s 2021 AFCON Participation...
AFCON 2017: Pinnick, Ladipo hopeful Super Eagles will...

Port Harcourt to host NPBL playoffs
Edo Queens get home support ahead CAF qualifiers
Nigerian Triathlon Union fixes Sept 30 for election
Prolific Osimhen scores back-to-back braces
Ronaldo hits 977 career goals as Al Nassr thrash Al Riyadh 4-0
Racist abuse spurred Suzuki as Japan goalkeeper set for Premier League
Fury calls Joshua coward, casts doubts on super-fight
My basketball dream ended after visa denial — Ex-BBNaija star Hermes
Olayinka ready for Saudi journey
Why NSC picked Lagos to host intermediate games – DG
EFCC, ICPC summon NFF officials over N12bn FG fund
Rangers International going, going . . . (64,043 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,403 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,289 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,895 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,771 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,650 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,548 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (52,058 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,260 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,733 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,221 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,606 views)