Super Eagles forward Moses Simon has urged Nigeria to brace for a challenging encounter when they face Libya in their matchday four Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifier on October 15, Soccernet.ng reports.
The game, set to take place at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Benghazi, will be crucial for both sides, with Nigeria aiming to extend their lead in Group D.
Simon acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming fixture but assured fans that the Super Eagles are prepared to handle the hostility they expect from Libya’s Mediterranean Knights.
“They showed us a bit of what to expect there in Libya. But we’re mentally prepared for their hostility. We know they will want to come out to win,” Simon said.
“This will be good for us. So we will have to play neutral. We are really, really mentally prepared for them.”
Nigeria secured a narrow 1-0 win over Libya in the first leg on Friday, thanks to a late goal from Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
Dele-Bashiru’s strike, coming just four minutes from the end, saved Nigeria from what could have been an embarrassing draw at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Simon, who plays for Nantes in France, reflected on the hard-fought victory.
“Yeah, it was a nervy game. We all knew the game was going to be difficult. But we’re prepared for it. There’s no more minnows in the game,” he remarked.
Despite Libya’s defensive tactics, Nigeria managed to break through, and Simon emphasised the importance of securing the win.
“Overall, the most important thing is that we got the victory we needed and no player was injured.”
Nigeria lead Group D with seven points and a win in Benghazi could secure their qualification for AFCON 2025 with two games to spare.