Wilfred Ndidi reflects on toughest AFCON qualifier

Wilfred Ndidi, a key player for Nigeria, has shared his thoughts on the hardest match in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The Super Eagles have done well, staying unbeaten so far, but the road to qualification hasn’t been smooth. According to Ndidi, one match stood out as particularly challenging.

Nigeria has already qualified for the tournament with strong performances and some luck, including Rwanda’s loss to Libya.

Mental Battle Against Libya

The Super Eagles earned 10 points from their first four matches, staying ahead of Benin in Group D. With three wins and two draws, they are at the top of the group and have one game left to play.

However, the match against Libya caused serious off-the-pitch issues. When the Nigerian team arrived in Libya for the second leg, they faced long delays and were denied entry, forcing the match to be cancelled. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) later awarded three points to Nigeria, helping them secure qualification.

Ndidi: “The Libya Game Was Mentally Draining”

Reflecting on the experience, Ndidi described the Libya match as the most mentally challenging. The first leg in Uyo was less demanding physically, but the delay tactics used by the Libyans in the second leg affected the team’s mental strength.

Ndidi, who played in all four qualifiers, compared the Libya game to the tough encounter against Benin, known for their physicality. Speaking to Victor Modo, he said:

“The hardest game? I would say the Libyan game. Physically, it wasn’t difficult, but mentally, it was tough because of the delay tactics.

“The last game against Benin was also hard because they are a physical team, but the Libya game was mentally draining. I would say the Libya game was the hardest.”