A Libyan news source, Libya Akhbar, has suggested that Nigeria’s Super Eagles intentionally lost their home match against Rwanda on Monday to prevent Libya from qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Libya’s national team, known as the Mediterranean Knights, last participated in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 and faced a contentious match against the Super Eagles during the third and fourth rounds of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
“The question surrounding Nigeria’s defeat to Rwanda lingers: Was there a deliberate effort to exclude Libya from the tournament?
“While the answer may remain unclear, it is evident that Libyan football requires significant reforms, both in technical strategy and crisis management.”
The report claims that the Nigerian team intentionally weakened its performance to ensure Libya’s non-qualification, even if Libya managed to secure a victory against the Benin Republic.
Libya had aimed to defeat Benin to achieve a total of seven points. “However, their aspirations were thwarted by a strong defensive effort from Benin, who successfully secured a crucial point that could have guaranteed their advancement to Morocco.
“Meanwhile, Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to Rwanda on their home turf added to the controversy, particularly as it raised suspicions about Nigeria’s motives in this match.
“The outcome of the game between Nigeria and Rwanda shocked Libyan supporters.
“Fans anticipated a straightforward victory for Nigeria, which would have kept Libya’s hopes alive had they triumphed over Benin. Instead, the opposite occurred. Nigeria’s initial lead of one goal transformed into a two-goal defeat, suggesting a lack of competitive drive from the Super Eagles.
“This situation has prompted numerous inquiries within sports circles: Did Nigeria intentionally lose to eliminate Libya?”
