Nigeria vs Libya Player ratings: Simon shines, Lookman huffs and puffs, Boniface disappoints

Published on by Akawor Chichetam

The Super Eagles of Nigeria continued their 2025 AFCON qualifiers with a hard-fought victory over Libya on Friday evening.

Three-time African champions Nigeria faced off against the Mediterranean Knights in their third qualifying match at Uyo, narrowly securing a 1-0 win.

Nigeria were fully in charge of the game from beginning to end but were held off by Libya's strong defence. However, they eventually broke through when Fisayo Dele-Bashiru slotted in a brilliant cross from Moses Simon.

Nigeria vs Libya
Photo by Icon Sport

Afrik-Foot rates the performance of the Nigerian players as they claimed the first bragging rights over Libya

Stanley Nwabali – 5/10

Chippa United's goalkeeper had little to do in goal. Despite the lack of pressure, the reliable shot-stopper stood his ground when needed.

William Troost-Ekong – 6.5/10

The Al-Kholood center-back had a solid outing. He commanded the defense well and had a chance to score, but missed the opportunity.

Ola Aina – 6.5/10

The Nottingham Forest full-back had a decent game. His link-up play was smooth, though he didn’t contribute much going forward.

Calvin Bassey – 6/10

The Fulham defender paired well with Troost-Ekong and was the backbone of the defense. A solid performance, though nothing spectacular.

Super Eagles of Nigeria
Photo by Icon Sport

Bruno Onyemaechi – 6.3/10

The Boavista full-back was reliable defensively and created some decent scoring chances.

Wilfred Ndidi – 5/10

The Leicester City midfielder struggled to find his rhythm and was a shadow of himself until being substituted in the second half.

Frank Onyeka – 5/10

The Brentford midfielder had a quiet game with little to show before being subbed off 16 minutes into the second half.

Alex Iwobi – 7/10

The Fulham star showed glimpses of brilliance, creating several scoring opportunities. He came close to scoring and could have had a hat-trick before being replaced in the 73rd minute.

Moses Simon – 8/10

The Nantes winger was a constant threat, tormenting the Libyan defense. He switched flanks effectively and delivered a perfect assist for the winning goal.

Ademola Lookman – 6/10

The Atalanta forward had a quiet first half but came alive in the second. He found the net, but the goal was ruled offside.

Victor Boniface – 5/10

The Bayer Leverkusen striker had a decent game but struggled to break through the Libyan defense before being substituted.

Substitutes

Lookman of Super Eagles
Photo by Icon Sport

Samuel Chukwueze – 4/10

The AC Milan forward came on in the 61st minute and saw a great scoring chance denied by the Libyan goalkeeper nine minutes later.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru – 7/10

The Lazio midfielder replaced Iwobi and grabbed the winning goal just minutes before the end of regular time.

Taiwo Awoniyi – 3/10

The Nottingham Forest striker replaced Boniface but was effectively shut down by the Libyan defense.

Raphael Onyedika – 3/10

The Club Brugge midfielder came on for Ndidi but didn’t make much of an impact.

Semi Ajayi – 3/10

The West Brom defender came on late to replace Lookman and barely touched the ball.

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Akawor Chichetam

Akawor Chichetam is a dedicated sports journalist with a passion for football, both as a player and as a writer.

A proud member of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Chichetam has made significant contributions to renowned media platforms, including Elegbete TV, Footballrover, and Football411.

Known for insightful commentary and engaging content, Akawor brings a unique perspective to the world of sports journalism, combining a love for the game with a deep understanding of its details.