Libya have confirmed the inclusion of Crotone of Italy striker, Ahmad Bengali in their list of players to battle Nigeria on October 13 in the first lerg of the double Afirca Cup of Nations qualifiers.
While the Super Eagles’ Crotone lynchpin, Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo (Simy) has been left out of the game in Uyo, footballlive.ng learnt that his club mate will make the trip to Nigeria with The Mediterranean Knights.
This is after Libya’s coach, Adel Amrouche released a list of 22 players for the match, with many home-based players named alongside Bengali, who has been rated as the biggest of all the invitees.
The former England U-17 player will, however, be joined by four other foreign-based stars in Ali Al Musrati of Vitoria Guimarães in Portugal, Mohamed El Monir from Orlando City in USA, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi of New York City in USA and Hamdou Elhouni of Desportivo Aves in Spain.
The home-based players will begin training in Tunisia on October 4, while the foreign pros are expected to start arriving at the weekend, or Monday, October 8 at the latest.
The full squad has Mohamed Fathi Nachnouch (Al Ahly SC Tripoly), Ahmed Abdessalem Arraka (Al Madina), Mourad Boubaker al Ouhichi (Al-Hilal), Ahmed Kamel Terbi (Al-Ittihad), Sanad Massaoud Mohamed (Raja), and Tarek Nassr Jemal (Al-Ittihad).
Others are Ali Maatoug Omran (Ahly Tripoli), Mootassem Massaoud Sabou (Al-Ittihad), Mohamed Abdessalem Khalifa (Orlando City), Ahmed Mohamed Maksi (Al-Ittihad), Ali Al Musrati (Vitoria Guimarães), Badr Hassan Ahmad (Ahly Tripoli), Ahmad Fahim ben Ali (Crotone), and Rabia Ramadan el Chadi (Al-Ittihad).
Also listed are Moaid Salem Ellafi, Mohamed Saleh Solah-Mahrek (Bahrain) Hamdou Mohamed el Houni (Desportivo Aves), Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (New York City), Mohamed Noureddine Zaabia (Al-Ittihad), Anis Mohamed Seltou (Ahly Tripoli), Salem Fathi Belaid (Al-Ittihad) and Khaled Majdi Mrimi.
Libya are currently top of Group E with four points from two games, while Nigeria lie third in the group with three points from the same number of matches so far played.
The return leg between both countries will take place three days later in the Tunisian City of Sfax.
