AFCON Qualifier: Libya Appoint New Coach Ahead Of Nigeria Clash

The Libya Football Federation has appointed its former assistant coach, Nasser Al-Hadiri, as head coach ahead of the match against Nigeria

Al-Hadiri succeeds Serbian tactician Milutin Sredojevic, who was dismissed following the team’s poor start to the qualifying series earlier this month.

President of the Libya Football Federation Abdul Hakim Al-Shalmani said, “The LFF had already concluded its agreement on everything with national coach Al-Hadiri to take over the training of the Libyan national team, as the new coach has great experience at the technical level and previously held the position of assistant coach with the Spaniard Javier Clemente in the Libyan national team in 2014.”

According to a Libyan publication, Libyan observer Al-Hadiri will be assisted by Abu Bakr Al-Harak, while Misbah Shangab will be the goalkeeper trainer.

Al-Hadiri’s first task will be to reignite their campaign in the qualifiers against Nigeria when they face the Super Eagles in Uyo on Friday, October 11, before the return leg in the city of Benina on Tuesday, October 15.

The Nigeria Football Federation on Monday announced that Libya will host the Super Eagles at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium.

The 10,000-caoacity facility is located in the city of Benina, some 19 kilometres outside the country’s second city, Benghazi.

Known previously as Hugo Chávez Stadium, the stadium also has an artificial turf.

The Mediterranean Knights are currently bottom of the qualifying Group D with one point after being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Rwanda before losing 2-1 against the Benin Republic in Ivory Coast.

On the other hand, Nigeria are top of the group with four points after thrashing Genort Rohr’s Benin Republic 3-0 in Uyo before playing out a goalless draw against Rwanda in Kigali.