In another group match, Libya stunned Rwanda with a late goal from Fahd T. Saad Mohamed in the 84th minute, resulting in a 1-0 victory.
The Super Eagles' points were bolstered by the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) decision to award them three goals and three points following the incident in Libya.
The Match Day 4 encounter, originally set for Benina on October 15, was canceled after the Nigerian team experienced a flight diversion and was subsequently held for over 17 hours in an abandoned airport.
The Libya Football Federation (LFF) has been fined $50,000 for the situation. Despite a lackluster performance, the three-time African champions ensured they topped the group with a 1-1 draw against Benin, played in heavy rain.
Solace Chukwu, Site Coordinator for AfrikFoot NG, commented, “It was a mix of factors. The adverse weather conditions contributed to player injuries and errors. Knowing that qualification was already secured likely led to a lack of urgency, resulting in a subdued performance. Additionally, the selection and tactical approach did not benefit the team.”
Augustine Eguavoen has done well as interim head coach, maintaining an unbeaten record and conceding only one goal in the AFCON qualifying series against Benin. However, opinions are divided on whether he should continue beyond the qualifiers.
Chukwu expressed skepticism about Eguavoen's future, stating, “It’s difficult to justify his continuation based on his interim performance. Although he has not lost, the team's displays have been uninspired and disorganized. Therefore, I would say no.”
Eguavoen had previously announced his intention to step down following the away match in Rwanda; however, he has since reversed his decision and will remain in charge for the home fixture. Given that the match is essentially inconsequential—Nigeria has already secured the top position in the group regardless of the outcome—it remains uncertain how the 59-year-old will approach the game.
There are suggestions that he might consider calling up a few players from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), as he is expected to lead the team in the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Chukwu commented, “In light of this, he should have been bolder with his selections this window. I do not agree with the notion of utilizing the CHAN squad for this purpose. Although it may be a dead rubber, the result will still impact Nigeria’s ranking, which could influence seedings for future tournaments.”