The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations is fast approaching and the teams taking part are keen to begin their run in the tournament, with an eye on the ultimate prize.
The 2012 Afcon takes place from January 21 to February 12 and will be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Some teams will be experiencing their first taste of the competition, while others will be aiming to write their names in the record books as Africa’s best when the final takes place at the Stade d’Angondje in Libreville on February 12.
Goal.com introduces you to the 16 teams that will be taking part in this highly-anticipated competition. Here we profile Libya.
Previous Appearances:
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1982, 2006 |
Best Performance:
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Runners-up: 1982 |
HOW THEY QUALIFIED FOR AFCON 2012
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GROUP C BEST RUNNERS-UP
Libya’s qualification for their third Afcon tournament ever is arguably the top African football story in 2011. The Mediterranean Knights had to overcome a civil war that threatened to rip apart both the country and the team, finishing as one of the best second-placed sides from Group C, against all expectations.
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| The Brazilian coach has managed teams everywhere from his home country to the United Arab Emirates, but is perhaps best remembered for his time at the helm of Saudi Arabia during the 2006 World Cup. He took over the Libya in July of last year and has completely rebuilt the side since his arrival. |
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The 39-year-old goalkeeper is an inspirational leader who played through injury and made two crucial saves in Libya’s final qualifier in Chingola against Zambia. The Chipolopolo couldn’t get past him on the day as the north Africans held them to a 0-0 draw which proved just enough for them to qualify.
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TARIQ ABDUL FATTAH | Star Player
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| Not only is he one of Libya’s top strikers, but Abdul Fattah also fought with the Libyan revolutionaries to liberate his country of Muammar Gaddafi’s mercenaries. The talented forward should have no problem coping with the nerves of partaking in his first Afcon after surviving such an experience. |
RABIE EL LAFI | Young Talent
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| The Club Africain right-back has the distinction of scoring the first goal for Libya after the fall of Gaddafi’s regime. His 28th-minute winner from an acute angle against Mozambique in Cairo allowed his team to begin a new era of Libyan football with the full three points. |
| Paqueta has constructed an inexperienced but hard-working team from scratch. Libyan footballers are known for their on-the-ball skills but have often lacked the tactical discipline and physical readiness needed to win tight games. This has changed under the Brazilian who has needed to do little in terms of inspiring his players given that all of them are bursting with national pride at the moment. |
