The Super Eagles of Nigeria have left for Libya for the return leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification against the Mediterranean Knights on Tuesday.

A video posted on the team’s social media handles on Sunday showed when the players boarded bus from their hotel to the airport and their arrival at the airport to board a plain to the North African country.

The Eagles battled hard the break the defence of the Libyans and won the first encounter played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on Friday.

It was Lazio of Italy midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who came off the bench to score for the three-time African champions in the game where the Libyans camped in their own half most part of the 90 minutes defending with grit.

Dele-Bashiru, who replaced Alex Iwobi in the 74th minute, scored in the 86th minute after connecting well with a low cross from Moses Simon.

The goal ensured that the resilience of the Mediterranean Knights who employed all kinds of tricks including time-wasting to keep the Nigerians at bay, was broken.

Nigeria currently lead the Group D with seven points after three games, while Benin Republic closely follow with 6 points, with Rwanda and Libya having 2 points and one point respectively.

Nigeria will face the Libyans for the return leg on Tuesday at Benina Martyrs Stadium in Libya.

World number one Jannik Sinner defeated 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Sunday to win the Shanghai Masters.

Sinner took a crucial break in the fourth game of the second set to defeat the Serb in 1hr 37min and deny him a 100th career singles title.

“He was just too good today, too strong, too fast,” Djokovic said after the match.

Sinner said it was a “very special day”, saluting his opponent as a “legend” who kept playing “incredible tennis… year after year”.

In a nod to former Djokovic rival Roger Federer, who was watching from the stands, the 23-year-old joked: “There are legends everywhere, I just try to keep up a little bit.”

Facing off before an impassioned crowd, neither player blinked in the first set, unable to break the other’s serve.

Sinner quickly took control in the tiebreak, breaking Djokovic’s serve on the first point and going 5-1 up.

The Serb steadied himself but then netted a volley to bring up set point at 6-3.

Sinner failed to convert initially but didn’t miss the second time behind serve.

The next key moment came in the fourth game of the second set when Sinner was up 40-15 on Djokovic’s serve.

Djokovic saved one break point with a fiery ace but couldn’t stop a superb forehand down the line from Sinner that saw him pull ahead.

All that remained was for the Italian to hold his nerve, hitting an ace to finish the match and claim the title.

Sinner’s victory is the latest triumph in a formidable season, in which he has won two Grand Slams and retained the top spot in the rankings since June.

But it is also a year that has seen him embroiled in controversy after he twice tested positive for a banned steroid in March.

In August, the International Tennis Integrity Agency accepted Sinner’s explanation that the drug entered his system unintentionally when his physiotherapist used a spray containing it to treat a cut, then provided massage and sports therapy to the player.

However, the World Anti-Doping Agency said last month it would appeal against the decision to clear him of wrongdoing and was seeking a ban of up to two years.

That news came as Sinner was contesting the China Open, where he lost in the final to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who was also watching from the stands on Sunday.

“This year has been very, very tough for me… At points I lost a little bit of smile,” Sinner said on Sunday.

“It’s never easy to play in these kind of circumstances,” he added.

“I feel like I’m strong when I go on the court trying to not think about it… When I wake up I try to focus on every single (match or practice) I do, but then of course I have moments when I think about it which is not comfortable.”

England have drawn up a list of four managers they want to appoint after Lee Carsley decided to turn down the role on a full-time basis.


Carsley, who is currently the interim coach, does not wish to be the new permanent England manager, according to The Telegraph.

This news comes after the disastrous Nations League defeat to Greece on Thursday.


Following that match, Carsley strongly hinted that he did not want to manage the first team on a full-time basis.

This has forced the Football Association, FA, to look elsewhere.

It is understood that Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, who is out of contract at the end of the season, remains England’s “dream choice” to replace Gareth Southgate.


The three other men on the wishlist include former Chelsea head coaches Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter as well as Newcastle United’s Eddie Howe