2012 Africa Cup of Nations team profiles: Focus on Libya’s AFCON history
By Angela Asante, January 10 2012,
soccer news, football news, football articles, football articles
The Libyans will be looking to put their country’s political problems behind them during the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.Can Marcos Paqueta inspire the Mediterranean Knights to something positive this month?Libya’s best memory dates from 1982
Despite joining CAF as a member in 1965, Libya’s national team has tasted Nations Cup football only a few times. The 1982 African Cup of Nations marks, until now, the country’s greatest accomplishment on the continent.Having qualified as hosts of the tournament, the Mediterranean Knights had the honour to compete against the likes of African powerhouses Ghana, Tunisia and Cameroon. The Libyans claimed strong results.They went that close to upsetting the Black Stars but Opoku Nti’s late goal cancelled out Fawzi Al-Esawi’s strike as the game ended 2-2. Libya snatched a 2-0 win over Tunisia at the 11 June Stadium on Matchday 2, then did just enough against Cameroon to claim the top spot in Group A.In the semi-finals, the Mediterranean Knights staged a comeback to oust Zambia on a 2-1 score line. The Libyans faced Ghana again in the final.Alhassan put the Black Stars into the lead and Beshari helped Libya retaliate 20 minutes from time. However, the game remained 1-1 as a penalty shoot out was needed to declare the winners. Libya lost 7-6 in a dramatic end to the 2982 AFCON.For many different reasons, the Libyan national team only returned to the Nations Cup’s scene in 2006. This time, they drew Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco and host country Egypt.
By Angela Asante, January 10 2012,
soccer news, football news, football articles, football articles
The Libyans will be looking to put their country’s political problems behind them during the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.Can Marcos Paqueta inspire the Mediterranean Knights to something positive this month?Libya’s best memory dates from 1982
Despite joining CAF as a member in 1965, Libya’s national team has tasted Nations Cup football only a few times. The 1982 African Cup of Nations marks, until now, the country’s greatest accomplishment on the continent.Having qualified as hosts of the tournament, the Mediterranean Knights had the honour to compete against the likes of African powerhouses Ghana, Tunisia and Cameroon. The Libyans claimed strong results.They went that close to upsetting the Black Stars but Opoku Nti’s late goal cancelled out Fawzi Al-Esawi’s strike as the game ended 2-2. Libya snatched a 2-0 win over Tunisia at the 11 June Stadium on Matchday 2, then did just enough against Cameroon to claim the top spot in Group A.In the semi-finals, the Mediterranean Knights staged a comeback to oust Zambia on a 2-1 score line. The Libyans faced Ghana again in the final.Alhassan put the Black Stars into the lead and Beshari helped Libya retaliate 20 minutes from time. However, the game remained 1-1 as a penalty shoot out was needed to declare the winners. Libya lost 7-6 in a dramatic end to the 2982 AFCON.For many different reasons, the Libyan national team only returned to the Nations Cup’s scene in 2006. This time, they drew Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco and host country Egypt.
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