Bafana beware – Libya have nothing to lose in Sfax

THE ancient Mediterranean port of Sfax will host tonight’s vital African Cup of Nations qualifier between Libya and Bafana Bafana.

For South Africa, the Tunisian city won’t hold the terrors of playing in Tripoli, older by 200 years than Sfax and pock-marked by a vicious civil war and simmering discontent. It explains why the continent’s soccer bosses won’t allow visiting teams to play in Libya’s capital.

If SA soccer typically veers from exotic to outlandish, Libyan soccer is all that and more, with sprinklings of politics and in-fighting colouring much of their game.

Former coach Adel Amrouche took off several months ago after going unpaid, a familiar predicament for coaches who chase opportunity in Africa.

Libya chose well in replacing the Algerian with Fawzi Omar Ahmed Al-issoui, who is revered in his home country after setting the 1982 Cup of Nations alight in his home country. It was a feat that gave sustenance to his recognition as Libya’s Player of the Century.

He is now one win away from qualifying for the Cup of Nations, Libya having done so just three times previously.

These are heady days compared to the years when the old despot Muammar Gaddafi was president. Al-saadi, his third son, had high self-regard for his soccer ability, although few others did. No matter. He was made captain of the national team and was promptly installed as president of Libyan soccer.

Given the reputation of his father, no-one argued with Al-saadi.

He even forbade television commentators from mentioning any other names during broadcasts. Fearing he would be undermined, Al-saadi instructed that players’ numbers be used instead.

At one point he even banned the red and white colours of Benghazi, the rivals of Al-ahli.

Many supporters were imprisoned, some of whom were sentenced to death for attempting to challenge Gaddafi’s rule. Al-saadi later turned up in Italy, but, unsurprisingly, none of Perugia, Udinese or Sampdoria were seduced by his claims to stardom.

He played a measly pair of matches, including 15 minutes against Juventus, and then got done for doping.

After a run-in with torturers in a Tripoli jail a decade ago, he was last heard from in 2018 when he was acquitted of murdering a former soccer coach.

Remarkably, mere months after Muammar Gaddafi was lynched, the Libyan team hit its highest international ranking (36) after a thrilling Cup of Nations that included a defeat of continental giants Senegal.

Without the evil hand of Gaddafi around, motivation clearly wasn’t lacking.

But Libyan soccer, five years removed from a recent civil war, remains brittle.

Jamal Al-jaafari, Libya’s soccer president, was suspended last year – and placed back in the hot seat last month – and sponsorship of the local league is an ongoing struggle.

They are largely hit-and-miss merchants, but occasionally they can explode into life, as they did last November when they belted Seychelles 8-1 on the sunny island. Bafana Bafana couldn’t manage one.

A mere 525km from Tripoli, Sfax will practically be a home away from home for the Libyans tonight.

With the Interior Ministry bussing in 3 000 supporters, that will be 3 000 more than the number of SA supporters. Libyan soccer has been through the wringer.

Bafana, shot through with desperation and ambition, will hold no fears for a team that will thrill to the fight.