Ahead of Tuesday’s matchday 4 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying duel with Libya, the Nigerian football team, Super Eagles are being maltreated at the Al Abaq Airport in Libya where their flight had been diverted to on Sunday night.

According to video clips sent by the team’s media unit, the players and officials were being held hostage by the Libyan immigration authorities.

The flight was originally to land at Benina International Airport, Benghazi which is 19 kilometres from Tuesday’s match venue.

It was reported that about an hour before landing, the Nigerian aircraft approaching its destination, Benghazi was diverted to another city more than a two-hour drive from the original destination.

Striker Serhou Guirassy scored a hat-trick in the first half to help Guinea secure a commanding 4-1 victory over Ethiopia in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday. 

The match, played at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, saw Syli National dominate from the start, with Guirassy’s hat-trick leading the way.

The Guineans took the lead in the 18th minute when Guirassy converted a penalty after Birhanu Bekele’s foul inside the box.

The Germany-based attacker doubled his tally in the 37th minute, finishing from close range after a well-timed pass from Seydouba Cissé. 

Just before half-time, Guirassy completed his hat-trick, slotting home in stoppage time from a François Kamano assist to make it 3-0 at the break.

Guinea continued their dominance in the second half, with Cissé adding a fourth goal in the 48th minute, finishing a through ball from Mady Camara.

Ethiopia pulled one back in the 53rd minute through Kenean Markneh, who capitalized on a rebound to score from close range, but it proved little more than a consolation.

Guinea’s victory puts them back in contention for qualification, while Ethiopia faces an uphill battle to keep their hopes alive.

The standings after Matchday Three see DR Congo topping Group H with nine points following their 1-0 win over Tanzania on Thursday.

Tanzania sit second with four points, while Guinea’s victory moves them up to third with three points. Ethiopia, with just one point from three matches, remain at the bottom of the group.

Morocco’s dominance of Group B in the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifiers continued on Saturday, 12 October as they outclassed Central African Republic to make it three out of three wins in their group.

A clinical display by the Atlas Lions concluded with a 5-0 win for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations hosts, as they build momentum to staging the biggest event on African soil.

Assedine Ounahi’s first half brace alongside Adbe Essalzouli, Achraf Hakimi and Soufiane Rahimi’s goals ensured Morocco’s third straight win of the group.

The Atlas Lions now lead the pack with a healthy five points, ahead of Gabon who played out to a goalless draw with Lesotho on Friday evening.

While the North Africans lead the pack, the race continues to be an exciting one for Group B when the fixtures resume for Match Day 04 of the qualifiers as Gabon travel down south to Lesotho for the return leg on Tuesday.

Central African Republic will be hoping to redeem themselves and put Saturday’s misery behind them when they welcome the Atlas Lions for the return leg on the same evening.