Caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen has expressed confidence that the Super Eagles will secure qualification to next year’s AFCON by winning both home and away matches against Libya. Nigeria currently leads their group with four points from two matches, holding a narrow one-point advantage over Benin and a two-point lead over Rwanda. Eguavoen stressed that winning both encounters against Libya is the most practical route to ensure qualification, as it would propel Nigeria to 10 points, putting them in a commanding position to qualify for the tournament.

If the Super Eagles can secure these six points, their qualification will be nearly assured, especially as their closest competitors, Benin and Rwanda, are poised to battle each other. Benin, who currently have three points, could move up to nine points if they manage to win both of their matches, but this would still leave them trailing behind Nigeria’s potential tally of 10 points. Meanwhile, Rwanda, currently with two points, would need an impressive performance to close the gap, while Libya, with only one point, remains a distant threat. The likelihood of Nigeria maintaining their lead becomes more favorable if Benin and Rwanda cancel each other out in their upcoming fixtures.

Eguavoen’s strategy is grounded in the belief that Nigeria controls its own destiny. A double victory over Libya would not only give the Super Eagles a strong cushion in the points tally but also ease the pressure in the final two matches of the qualifying campaign. Eguavoen emphasized that these wins are crucial to avoiding any unnecessary complications, as a slip-up could allow their rivals to close the gap. With this approach, Nigeria will look to secure their AFCON spot as early as possible and avoid any late drama in the qualification race.