'It was draining mentally' - Ndidi reveals the most difficult game played by Super Eagles in 2025 Afconq

Despite being unbeaten in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has admitted it was not easy for the Super Eagles to qualify for the AFCON and revealed that the fixture against Libya has been the toughest in the qualification campaign.

Courtesy of Rwanda losing to Libya, Nigeria grabbed their spot at the next edition of the biggest football competition on the continent, having amassed 10 points from the previous four games while their closest challenger Benin, only had six points.

Nigeria have secured three wins and two draws in the five games played so far and have secured the top spot in Group D, having gathered 11 points, four more than second-placed Benin, with a game to spare.

While the Super Eagles have not had it easy on the pitch during the qualification campaign, they have also had to battle off-the-pitch challenges, most notably in the second-leg fixture against Libya.

The North African side refused to give entry to the Super Eagle squad upon their arrival in the country and made them go through a lot of rigours, which led to the cancellation of the fixture.

Consequently, the Confederation of African Football awarded the Super Eagles three points and three goals which has played a role in them securing qualification for the 2025 AFCON with two games to spare.

Speaking on the qualification campaign, Ndidi expressed his delight at securing a berth at the next edition of the continent's football showpiece and admitted that fixture against Libya has been the most difficult in the qualifiers.

"It feels amazing because that is why we are here you know. Like we want to qualify, every team wants to qualify but we did great, we did amazing unbeaten and in the games, one to go but it is a proud moment," Ndidi told Victor Modo.

"Congratulations to us. It is not easy, not everyone will qualify for AFCON but it is a big thing for the team"

On the most difficult game played by the Super Eagles so far in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Ndidi answered: "The hardest game? I would say one of the hardest game, I will say the Libyan game because physically it was not difficult but mentally it was difficult because of the whole delay tactics.

"I would have said the last game against Benin but we knew Benin is like a physical team, I will say the Libyan game is like one of them, it was draining mentally, so I will say the Libya game."

The 27-year-old was one of the few players that impressed in the 1-1 draw with Benin on Thursday and has started all the four games played in the qualifiers.

Ndidi missed the 2023 AFCON due to injury but has featured in two of the previous editions of the tournament

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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