Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, recorded his second goal for Nigeria after coming off the bench to score the solitary goal for Nigeria as the Super Eagles sealed a 1-0 win over Libya in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The goal calmed the frayed nerves after the centre referee appeared to have wrongly disallowed Ademola Lookman’s goal.
The Lazio midfielder put away a cross from the left by the hardworking Moses Simon in the 86th minute to finally break the deadlock against Libya, who kept out the home team for most of this 2025 AFCON Group D.
The Super Eagles thus consolidated leadership of their qualifying group with seven points from three matches.
The first half belonged to the home team, but inspired goalkeeping by Murad Al Wheeshi meant both teams went into the break without any goals.
Lookman was the liveliest in the opening periods, but his threats were continuously snuffed out.
In the 28th minute, Ekong skied a rebound from a Frank Onyeka strike after a corner kick, giving the Libyans a glimmer of hope.
Some moments later, Ndidi played a good ball to Lookman, who had a short interplay, before finding Iwobi who also failed to convert.
Boniface, Iwobi, and Moses Simon all failed to convert various chances on a rather frustrating night.
The Libyans kept pushing and pushing, putting bodies on the line to stop the Super Eagles from scoring.
In the 56th minute, Iwobi’s free header from inside the box missed target after good work from the left flank
Three minutes later, the Fulham midfielder’s spectacular half-volley from deep inside the box missed its mark.
In the 71st minute, substitute Samuel Chukwueze broke through the Libyan defence, but his final ball was again kept out by the impressive goalkeeper.
Lookman thought he had given the Super Eagles the lead late in the game, but he was denied by a rather controversial offside call, before Deke Bashiru finally did the damage to the relief of a packed stadium.
Meanwhile, Benin under former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr today continued to stay within striking distance of the Super Eagles in the 2025 AFCON qualifying series after they trounced Rwanda 3-0 in Abidjan.
They thus have six points from three matches, a point behind table-topping Nigeria.
Rwanda are third with two points, while Libya remain rooted to the bottom with a point.
Captain Steve Mounie opened the scoring in the seventh minute for Benin.
They extended their lead in the 67th minute before they made the game safe three minutes later.
Both 2026 World Cup qualifying rivals will clash again in Kigali on Tuesday in continuation of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers
Dele-Bashiru saves Eagles as Eguavoen’s boys limp to 1-0 win over Libya
