New coach for Super Eagles opponents ahead of AFCON 2025 qualifiers

Published on by Andrew Randa

Next Super Eagles opponents Libya, in a swift move to revive their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifying campaign, have appointed Nasser Al-Hadhiri as the new head coach of the national team.

The decision follows the dismissal of Serbian coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojević after a string of poor results, including a 1-1 draw at home against Rwanda and a 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic.

Al-Hadhiri, who previously served as assistant coach under Spanish tactician Javier Clemente in 2014, will be tasked with the daunting challenge of guiding the “Mediterranean Knights” through the rest of the qualifiers.

New coach for Super Eagles opponents ahead crunch AFCON qualifiers
Photo by Dzair Media

Libya currently sits at the bottom of Group D, and their hopes of reaching the AFCON tournament in Morocco are hanging by a thread.

Super Eagles first test for new Libya coach Al-Hadhiri

Speaking about the appointment, LFF President Abdulhakim Al-Shalmani expressed confidence in Al-Hadhiri’s ability to turn the team’s fortunes around.

“We have finalised everything with Nasser Al-Hadhiri. He brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of Libyan football.

His task will be to rebuild the team's confidence and performance after the disappointing results,” Al-Shalmani said in a statement.

New coach for Super Eagles opponents ahead crunch AFCON qualifiers
Photo by IMAGO

Al-Hadhiri will be supported by national coach Abu Bakr Al-Harak as his assistant and Misbah Shangab as the goalkeeper coach, forming a technical crew that will look to reignite Libya’s qualification hopes.

The October double-header against Nigeria's Super Eagles is set to be a stern test for Al-Hadhiri's new-look Libya.

The first clash will take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 11th October, kicking off at 5 pm, while the return leg will be held on Tuesday, 15th October, in Benina, near Benghazi, at 8 pm Nigerian time.

New coach for Super Eagles opponents ahead of AFCON 2025 qualifiers

Andrew Randa

Andrew Randa is a veteran Nigerian sports journalist with over 20 years of experience covering the beautiful game across Africa. Andrew served as a Media Officer for Nigeria's U-20 Men's National Team for three years, offering a unique perspective on the future stars of Nigerian football.

Beyond reporting, Andrew is a pioneer in sports graphics creation within Nigeria. His expertise extends to sports kit design, making him a true multi-faceted talent in the African sports landscape.

Andrew's experience is vast, with collaborations encompassing prestigious names like Kickoff, SuperSport, the NFF (Nigeria Football Federation), and the NPFL (Nigeria Professional Football League)