Libya’s interim coach, Omar Al-Maryami has declared that his team can still qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, despite losing home and away to Nigeria, sports247.ng can report.
Rather than put his tail in his hind legs and raise his hands in surrender, Al-Maryami said after his side lost 3-2 at home against the Super Eagles that all they have to do is beat South Africa and Seychelles to revive their chances of making it to AFCON 2019.
Al-Maryami’s hopes was boosted by South Africa’s inability to beat Seychelles away also on Tuesday, which means his side would be only a point behind Bafana Bafana should results go their way in the next round of matches, then they would wrap it up by beating them at home.
South Africa will host top placed Nigeria in a Herculean battle that the Eagles want to win, in order to avenge a 2-0 loss at home from the first round in Uyo.
Should that happen, South Africa would stay put on eight points and, if things go according to Al-Maryami’s forecast, Libya will beat Seychelles away and move up to seven points.
Al-Maryami, who stepped into the saddle after Algerian ex-player, Adel Amrouche resigned five days before the first leg match in Uyo, said the Mediterranean Knights still stand a chance of qualifying.
He declared: “This result hasn’t changed anything. We have a good team and we will fight till the end.
“We have a young squad that is very ambitious. We lost the game due to some little details and we were unlucky not to have scored more.”
