Fisayo Dele-Bashiru Helps Super Eagles Of Nigeria Beat Libya

The Super Eagles of Nigeria maintained their top spot in Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers thanks to a strike from second-half substitute Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.

The Super Eagles found it difficult to break the resilient defence of their visitors, Libya, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, as the Mediterranean Knights tried their best to end the game with a draw.

Libya’s players deployed a time-wasting strategy to frustrate their hosts as the Super Eagles failed to take advantage of their numerous goalscoring opportunities in the first half.

The first half ended with Nigeria seeing more of the ball and being more around their opponents’ penalty box but no clear-cut goalscoring chances fell to the attackers.

In the second half, Libya continued with their time-wasting strategy as it was obvious that they couldn’t overpower the star-studded Nigerian side.

After the hour mark, coach Augustine Eguavoen made a series of substitutions including taking off Victor Boniface, Frank Onyeka, and Alex Iwobi for Taiwo Awoniyi, Samuel Chukwueze, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.

The changes proved effective as Ademola Lookman scored a goal afterwards, which was cancelled for off-side.

In the 86th minute, Moses Simon, who was the liveliest Nigerian player on the pitch, gave a low cross to Dele-Bashiru, who calmly converted the pass to the winning goal.

With the 1-0 win, the Super Eagles remain top of Group D with 7 points in three games, while Libya remain bottom of the group with just a point. Nigeria will take on the Mediterranean Knights in the return leg of the tie on Tuesday.