Super Eagles head coach Augustine Eguavoen has described the one-goal victory against the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers as a significant relief for both him and his players. Following the match held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, Eguavoen expressed his excitement during the post-match briefing, acknowledging that he had hoped for more goals from his team.
The Super Eagles struggled in the first half, ending the first 45 minutes in a goalless draw. It wasn’t until the 87th minute that Dele Bashiru found the net, securing the much-needed win for Nigeria.
Eguavoen noted that the Mediterranean Knights’ defensive tactics limited his team’s scoring opportunities. “Emotions were high, and when the goal came, it was a huge relief. Actually, we should have scored more goals, but the tactics they deployed were compact, as they defended in numbers when the ball was in their area,” he said.
The coach commended his players for their improved performance in the second half, stating, “We were a bit slow in the first half, but the boys picked up, and ball circulation became faster as instructed. The last 25 minutes were better.”
Looking ahead, Eguavoen promised to re-strategize for their return match against Libya on Tuesday, aiming to field a more formidable team. Super Eagles captain William Ekong also assured fans in Uyo that the team is committed to qualifying for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.