June 4 – Libya will stage its first competitive home international in over two years on Friday amid boosted security measures. Despite still being embroiled in violence following the 2011 uprising, the country had its ban lifted by FIFA in April and will play the Democratic Republic of Congo in a World Cup qualifier in the capital Tripoli.
Anwar al-Tashani, president of the Libyan Football Federation, told Reuters the country has spent the last two weeks been preparing for the game as lawlessness continues.
“There will be (security) forces, two checkpoints in front of the stadium. The conditions required by FIFA will be met,” he said.
Since the war, the Libyan national teams have played ‘home’ World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifiers in Mali, Egypt and Tunisia.
Libyan club Al Nasr were allowed to host the April 5 African Confederation Cup match against Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces in the eastern city of Benghazi, after an inspection by a three-man CAF delegation in March.
Libya go into the upcoming qualifiers against Congo and Togo – the latter to be played next week – having beaten Uganda 3-0 in a friendly in Tripoli last week. It was their first international on home soil for 32 months.
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