FIFA visit brings glimmer of hope to Libyan football

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Sunday Apr 08, 2018. 11:30

FIFA’s visit in Libya is seen as a huge motivation for the North African country as they hope it will help lift the ban on hosting international matches.

The Libyan Football Federation hopes FIFA's current visit to the country will help lift a ban on hosting matches due to civil war.

The country's football has suffered following a civil war in 2011 which forced the national team to play their matches on foreign soil.

A delegation led by Veron Mosengo-Omba, FIFA director of African and Caribbean Member Associations, visited Tripoli to discuss how football has developed in Libya since the ban.

"My presence is the kick-off of the process to bring international football matches (back) in Libya," said Veron Mosengo-Omba.

"It is not me who will take the decision, but I will report, because I'm the envoy of the FIFA president.

“I will address the report of my visit to him, and then the competent body of FIFA will decide how and when to bring international matches in Libya.”

The Mediterranean Knights were subsequently forced to use neutral venues to host their matches such as playing the 2018 FIFA World Cup and CAF African Cup of Nations qualifiers in Mali, Egypt and Tunisia.

"The visit on Wednesday and Thursday aims to support the LFF with FIFA assistance in fields like training and development," a statement from the LFF said.