Libya playing with an eye on 2017

Libya will open their 2014 Orange CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals campaign tomorrow, Monday 13^th January against Ethiopia in the second of the double headers scheduled for Free State Stadium in Mangaung. The Meditteranean Knights are under a new coach and have brought an equally new side to the finals in South Africa. Group C gets underway Monday with Ghana and Congo Brazzaville playing first.

Cafonlinome.com caught up with Tarek Benissa, the Libyan team’s Relations Manager ahead of the encounter against Ethiopia. “We have set ourselves a semi-final place as a target and should we achieve that, it will have been a successful tournament. I believe it’s our group and Group A that are the toughest but should we make it out of our group l would like to think a semi-final is possible” said Benissa. “Ghana is a perennial football giant and Ethiopia like us are a team built mainly on local players with a few playing abroad and Congo too are a formidable side so this is not a push over group but we have belief and we will compete well.

Libya will host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and according to Benissa they will use this CHAN tournament to start building the team for that tournament. “ It is a relatively young side that we brought here to CHAN finals, a number of them are in their early twenties and even younger among this side with only three or four having been part of the side that played in the recent World cup qualifiers. Appointment of coach Javier Clemente was pretty much about building for AFCON 2017 and that is what he will be doing with this new and young side her at CHAN finals.” Added Benissa. And looking ahead to tomorrow’s clash with the Ethiopians, Benissa believes the beauty of this competition is that little is known about the opposition and you find out on the pitch, so it’s an open game for both sides. In preparation, Libya settled for a 0-0 draw with Mozambique but Benissa said the Mediterranean Knights missed so many chances and were the better side.

Benissa went on to say that, Libya is a country crazy about its football and many will be following the team’s fortunes in South Africa. This does not mean there will be pressure on Clemente and the boys to win said Benissa. “Everyone in Libya understands that we are testing the waters and building for the future, so no pressure at all just chance for them to enjoy the tournament. Benissa concluded by singing praise to CAF and the concept of CHAN as well as the hospitality of hosts South Africa, “ CHAN is an excellent idea and huge opportunity to improve, show and market the game in Africa and a wonderful stage for Africans playing in the domestic leagues” concluded the Libyan team’s Relations Manager. 

Confederation of African Football News