Saltou hat-trick sees Libya massacre Seychelles

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Nov 17, 2018. 17:25

Libya kept their hopes of qualifying for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations alive after an impressive 8-1 win over Seychelles at the Stade Linite on Saturday afternoon.

The away side got off to the perfect start with Motasem Sabbou finding the back of the net as early as the third minute, 1-0.

Libya continue to pile on the pressure and doubled their lead in the 21st minute thanks to a deadly strike from Anis Mohamed Saltou, 2-0.

Saltou found the back of the net for the second time in the 36th minute after a clinical finish following a well-worked passing move, 3-0.

Seychelles offered very little in attack and were lucky to get to the break only trailing by three goals.

Ten minutes into the second half and Libya did find the back of the net again with Khalid Almaryami scoring their fourth goal, 4-0.

Libya certainly didn’t let up and scored their fifth goal five minutes later with Salem Baleid providing a precise shot to find the back of the net, 5-0.

The icing on the cake for Libya was Saltou’s third goal as he made it 6-0 in the 63rd minute.

Seychelles did find some consolation with Perry Monnaie producing a great finish to make it 6-1, but it was way too little too late.

The home side’s joy, though, was very short-lived with Rabia Al Shadi scoring Libya’s seventh goal in the 86th minute and Hamdou Elhouni scoring their eighth in the 92nd minute to make it 8-1.

The victory keeps Libya’s hopes of qualifying for the Afcon next year alive as they now sit third in Group E on seven points, two points behind second placed South Africa and three points behind leaders Nigeria.