Libya head coach, Nasser Al-Hadiri has raised concerns about the physical fitness of his team ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Nigeria.
Initially, Al-Hadiri called up 28 players for the crucial double-header against the Super Eagles.
However, due to fitness issues within the squad, he has been forced to make adjustments.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday before the team’s departure to Uyo, the Coach acknowledged that several players were not at peak fitness.
“A large number of players are not fully fit, and this will cause major problems,” Al-Hadiri told reporters.
Rwanda and Libya during their AFCON 2025 Qualifying match. Photo | X
“We hope that the physical presence of the national team members will help me, and we will achieve a positive result in Nigeria.”
Fixtures and Squad Updates
Libya will face Nigeria in Uyo on October 11, with the reverse fixture set for October 15 at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi.
To address the gaps caused by player absences, Al-Hadiri has called up 3 additional players.
Al-Tahadi defender Mohammed Khalil, Al-Nasr midfielder Abdullah Abdul Rahim and Al-Akhdar winger Faraj Ghaidan have been added to the squad.
Nasser Al-Hadiri replaced Milutin Sredojevic as head coach of Libya Men’s NT.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation announced a 24-man squad on Saturday evening for the two matches against Libya.
The Super Eagles camp will open on Monday, with most of the players expected to arrive after their weekend club matches.
Nigeria Super Eagles Full Squad:
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC); Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC).
Defenders:
William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Brom); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest); Benjamin Tanimu (Crawley Town).
Midfielders:
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC)
Forwards:
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen); Moses Simon (FC Nantes); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest).
Libya’s Full Squad List:
Goalkeepers:
Murad Al-Wuheeshi (Al-Ahly Benghazi), Abdul Jawad Rizq (Al-Nasr).
Defenders:
Mohammed Ayyad (Abu Salim), Ahmed Ayyad (Al-Tahadi), Ali Youssef (Al-Afriqi Al-Tunisi), Ahmed Saleh (Al-Akhdar), Ahmed Al-Tarbi (Al-Ahly Tripoli), Magdy Mustafa Artiba (Al-Akhdar), Sobhi Al-Mabrouk Al-Dawi (Al-Ittihad), Mahdi Al-Kut (Al-Akhdar), Mohammed Al-Shtiwi (Al-Hilal), Mohammed Khalil (Al-Tahadi)
Midfielders:
Sand Bin Ali (Al-Nasr), Al-Bahlol Abu Sahmain (Al-Ahly Benghazi), Badr Hassan (Al-Nasr), Suhaib Bin Suleiman (Al-Ahly Benghazi), Faisal Al-Badri (Al-Hilal), Muhannad Mustafa Al-Mabrouk (Al-Madina), Osama Al-Sharimi (Al-Suwaihli), Omar Al-Khoja (Al-Suwaihli), Abdullah Abdul Rahim (Al-Nasr)
Forwards:
Nour Al-Din Al-Qalib (Al-Ahly Tripoli), Ahmed Saad (Al-Hilal), Mohammed Al-Tabbal (Al-Nasr), Fadel Salama (Al-Ahly Benghazi), Ahmed Elmsmari (Barcelona B, Spain), Ezz El-Din Al-Mariami (Al-Hilal), Moaz Issa (Al-Ittihad), Ahmed Karaoua (Al-Ahly Tripoli), Abdul-Miser Abu Shaiba (Al-Ittihad), Faraj Ghaidhan ( Al-Akhdar).
