Libya vs. Rwanda: Match Preview, Odds & Predictions

This next weekend, on Wednesday evening, Tripoli's 11 June Stadium will play host to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Rwanda and Libya.

Nigeria and Benin, two of Africa's most powerful nations, will meet in the group stage's first match on Saturday at Uyo's Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

Match Preview and Head to head

Libya will be feeling confident going into their first AFCON qualifying encounter following a decent performance in a 1-0 friendly victory against Botswana at this venue over the weekend.

Despite not having the game's best offensive game—scoring with their best opportunity—the Mediterranean Knights made a statement defensively, allowing just three shots on goal—none of which seemed destined to score.

The team's performance has taken a sharp turn for the better after the Libyan Football Federation announced the hiring of Serbian strategist Milutin Micho Sredojevic at the beginning of October. Under Sredojevic's tutelage, Libya has lost only once in eleven matches.

Throughout that period, the squad has managed to win seven matches and tie three. Their lone loss was in their most recent CAF World Cup qualifying encounter against Cape Verde in June.

This will be Libya's eleventh AFCON qualification campaign; however, they have only made it to the main draw once, most recently in the 2011–12 tournament.

Similarly, Rwanda will be looking to make a significant leap forward in this qualifying campaign after their dismal showing in the last edition, when they went winless in all six of their group stage matches.

Having won twice, drawn once, and lost once in their first four games, the Wasps enter this tournament in fine form, leading their CAF World Cup qualifying group.

Notably, in Torsten Spittler's first six matches as Rwanda manager, the Rwandan defense has been rock solid, allowing only one goal.

The Wasps are taking part in their eleventh AFCON qualifiers, much like their next opponents. However, they have only ever qualified for the main tournament once, in 2003–04.

Libya has a five-win head-to-head record against Rwanda's one victory, with two games ending in a tie. The two teams have met eight times over the years.

Libya x Rwanda Team News 

This week, Ali Yousef may return to the Libyan national team. He was sent off in June's match against Mauritius, which prevented him from playing in the World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde.

Returning to the starting lineup, the Club Africain center defender is likely to start alongside Magdy Artiba in the middle of defense, with Mohamed Al-Takbali and Abdelaziz Ali rounding out the back four.

Arthur Gitego of AFC Leopards and Bonheur Mugisha of Tunisian club AS Marsa were among the six professional players who made their Amavubi debut on Wednesday.

Steve Rubanguka of Saudi club Al Nonjoom, Innocent Nshuti of US third-tier team One Knoxville, and Thierry Manzi of Al Ahli are all eligible for selection this week.

Our Predictions

Full time draw @ 3.20 on Sky247.ng

Coming into this match, both of these teams are riding high on the success of their respective new management. We don't see much that can separate these two come game time, and there isn't much to select between them either so a draw is expected.

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