Team Profile: Libya

Libya are appearing in the MTN Africa Cup of Nations finals for only the second time, having previously played in 1982 when they hosted the tournament and reached the final.

Libya finished as runners-up on that occasion, in a tournament played on artificial surfaces, where they lost on post match penalties to Ghana. 

This time round they scrapped through into the MTN Africa Cup of Nations finals, finishing fourth in their qualifying group but qualifying for Egypt by virtue of the fact that their group included the host nations, who were already guaranteed a spot in the field of 16. 

United Nations sanctions kept Libya in the sporting doldrums for years and it has only been since 1997 they have been able to compete again in the World Cup and MTN Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

It is a country with an organised league and plenty of resources given their enormous oil wealth but a shortage of internationally experienced players.

Al Saadi Gadaafi, the eldest son of the country’s leader, has been a national team player as well as president of the country’s football federation but there remain questions about the merit of his selection.

He has since relinquished his administrative roles to his brother. Libya are coached by veteran Croat Ilija Loncarevic, who is in his second spell with the country, returning to the helm just six months after being given the sack.