Nigeria has secured its qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with two games to spare. This is all thanks to Libya’s 1-0 away victory over Rwanda on Thursday.

Prior to their clash against the Cheetahs in Abidjan, the Super Eagles, led by coach Augustine Eguavoen, needed just one point to confirm their spot in the tournament set to take place in Morocco.

However, Nigeria clinched their qualification even before facing Gernot Rohr’s Cheetahs, who are also on track for a potential return to the competition.

In their encounter in Abidjan, Nigeria played out a 1-1 draw. The hosts initially took the lead through Mohamed Tijani in the first half. However, Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen rose to the occasion, scoring the equalizer with just nine minutes left on the clock.

With that crucial goal, Osimhen matched the legendary Segun Odegbami’s international tally, as he now shares the second spot with 23 goals in 37 appearances for the Super Eagles.

Osimhen is now only 14 goals away from breaking Rashidi Yekini’s long-standing record as Nigeria’s all-time top scorer.

Victor Osimhen (37 caps) is now Nigeria’s joint-second all-time top scorer, having matched Segun Odegbami’s 23-goal record against Benin Republic. Only Rashidi Yekini has scored more, with 37 goals. Truly exceptional! pic.twitter.com/w9TlExR0xp

— Shina Oludare 🇳🇬 (@sportingshina) November 14, 2024

Meanwhile, Libya’s qualification hopes took a major hit after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) imposed sanctions on them.

The disciplinary board awarded Nigeria a 3-0 victory and fined the Libyan Football Federation $50,000 (£38,500) due to the poor treatment experienced by the Nigerian squad during their visit. Despite this setback,

Libya showed resilience as they defeated Rwanda in front of a lively crowd at Stade Amahoro in Kigali. Although Rwanda dominated possession, Libya managed to seal the win with a decisive goal in the 84th minute.

Fahd Saad Mohamed, who had just entered the game four minutes earlier, made an immediate impact by scoring past goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, thanks to an assist from Nouradin Elgelaib.

However, Libya is not ready to give up just yet. The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has announced that they plan to appeal the sanctions, hoping to reverse CAF’s decision.

They intend to pursue the matter to the highest levels of legal channels in a bid to keep their AFCON qualification hopes alive.

As Nigeria looks forward to making its 21st appearance in the continental tournament, its history in AFCON remains impressive. The Super Eagles made their debut in 1963 in Ghana, finishing sixth after a group-stage exit.

Since then, they have claimed the AFCON title three times—in Nigeria (1980), Tunisia (1994), and South Africa (2013).

Additionally, they have finished as runners-up five times and hold the record for the most bronze medals in AFCON history, having secured third place on eight occasions.

In their last outing at the tournament in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria narrowly lost 2-1 to the hosts in the final despite taking an early lead, with William Troost-Ekong being named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Looking ahead, Nigeria is determined to close out its qualifying campaign on a high note when they face Rwanda’s senior national team on Monday.

With only one game left, the Super Eagles are the sole team to have secured qualification from Group D. The battle for the second spot in the group remains wide open.

Furthermore, the Benin Republic, Libya, and Rwanda set to fight for a ticket to Morocco. As the final day of qualifiers approaches, fans can expect an intense showdown among these nations.

Besides Nigeria, several other nations have also booked their spots in the 2025 AFCON tournament.

Alongside hosts Morocco, countries such as Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda have all punched their tickets.

With these teams already qualified, the stage is set for another thrilling edition of Africa’s biggest football spectacle – 2025 AFCON!

The Nigeria Football Federation has unveiled a 23-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Rwanda and Benin Republic.

Leading Group D with 10 points from four matches, the Super Eagles need just a draw in their last two games to confirm their spot in the tournament set to be held in Morocco.

Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen, and Fulham’s Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey headline the squad.

These players are expected to play crucial roles in securing wins over the Cheetahs and Amavubi. Additionally, regulars like Samuel Chukwueze, William Troost-Ekong, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Bayer Leverkusen’s prolific Victor Boniface bolster the lineup.

The squad also sees fresh talent, with Victor Collins earning his first call-up after impressive performances for Nasarawa United in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Meanwhile, Real Sociedad forward Sadiq Umar returns to the team following a lengthy injury recovery.

For the goalkeeping duties, coach Augustine Eguavoen will see a competitive battle between CAF Awards nominee Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye, and Ethiopia-based Anas Obasogie.

Roster for Benin Rep. & Rwanda Afcon Qualifiers #soarsupereagles pic.twitter.com/z7hS1Xqsbd

— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) November 6, 2024

The Super Eagles will face Gernot Rohr’s Benin Republic on November 14th at Stade Felix-Houphouet-Boigny. Four days later, they will return to Uyo for their final qualifier against Rwanda at Godswill Akpabio Stadium.

Coach Eguavoen’s side aims to improve on their previous AFCON performance, where they finished as runners-up in the last tournament held in Côte d’Ivoire, losing to the host nation in a hard-fought final.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, 25, is back in full training after a two-month absence due to an ankle injury, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.

In September, Odegaard sustained the injury during the second half of Norway’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Austria. The setback had kept him on the sidelines, leaving a gap in Arsenal’s midfield.

With Arsenal gearing up for a crucial Champions League clash against Inter Milan on Wednesday, Odegaard’s return is a timely boost.

His presence in training raises hopes for his potential involvement in the upcoming game and strengthens the squad’s morale.

The talented midfielder brings vision and creativity, elements Arsenal have missed during his absence.

As Arsenal continues its Champions League campaign, Odegaard’s return adds depth to the team, promising to enhance their midfield options and overall strategy.

Fans and teammates alike are eagerly anticipating his full recovery and a possible return to match action soon, as he aims to contribute to Arsenal’s goals both domestically and in Europe.