Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has warned that Nigeria have not yet secured qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, despite their strong start in Group D.
Softfootball added that the Super Eagles remain in a good position after their hard-fought 1-0 win over Libya at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Nigeria had to work hard for the victory against a defensive Libyan side, with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scoring the decisive goal late in the match.
The result moved Augustine Eguavoen’s team to seven points from three matches, keeping them top of the group. Benin Republic are second with six points after beating Rwanda 3-0 in Ivory Coast.
Troost-Ekong was pleased with the result but insisted that the Super Eagles cannot afford to relax yet. According to him, qualification is not completed, even though the team have made a positive start.
The experienced defender admitted that Libya came to Uyo with a defensive plan and were clearly hoping to leave with a point.
He also noted that Nigeria should always aim to win home matches, although the Libyans made the game difficult with their approach.
For Troost-Ekong, the most important thing was that the Super Eagles found a way to claim all three points and strengthen their position in the group.
The captain is now focused on the reverse fixture in Libya on Tuesday. He expects the Mediterranean Knights to play more openly at home, which could create a different kind of contest.
The Super Eagles held a light training session on Saturday at the Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium as preparations continued for the second leg.
Nigeria are scheduled to travel to Libya on Sunday by chartered flight ahead of Tuesday’s return fixture, which will kick off at 9pm Libyan time and 8pm Nigerian time.
