Libya aim to end 16-year AfroBasket drought
For over a decade, Libya have unsuccessfully tried to re-join the FIBA AfroBasket community, now, they are looking to do things differently, that's what Mohamed Sadi, the team's captain, believes.
MONASTIR (Tunisia) - For over a decade, Libya have unsuccessfully tried to re-join the FIBA AfroBasket community, now, they are looking to do things differently. That's what Mohamed Sadi, the team's captain, believes.
Libya last appeared in the AfroBasket as hosts of the 2009 edition of the tournament.
Libya finished 11th in the 16-nation 2009 AfroBasket
But before Libya can even dream of rejoining the 16-nation AfroBasket festival, they face an uphill task against Morocco in Zone 1 AfroBasket Pre-Qualifiers between February 18-20 in Monastir, Tunisia.
The two-game series emerges as an ultimate challenge for a country that continues to show signs of reemergence in African basketball scene.
Team Libya
If Libya do pass their Morocco test, they will join Nigeria, Cape Verde and Uganda in Group B of the 2025 AfroBasket Qualifiers, which tips off next week (February 23-25) in Monastir.
So, crossing the border to northern neighbouring Tunisia for a play-off opportunity that can reignite Libya's basketball aspiration comes at the right time, according to Sadi.
"We had a great Arab Championship, but this doesn’t mean anything now," Sadi told FIBA.basketball while recalling Libya's second place in the 2023 Arab Championship last December.
Mohamed Sadi
"We are fully prepared and ready to play every game till the end and hopefully we can make it happen," the 28-year-old guard added.
Unlike Libya who haven't featured in the AfroBasket since 2009, Morocco reached the Semi-Finals of the 2017 AfroBasket co-hosted by Senegal and Tunisia.
To be in a position of trying to compete against Africa's heavyweights, Sadi notes: "It means a lot for us, Libyans, to qualify after a long time. It's not going to be an easy ride but we are going to give our best."
"We would've wanted to play at our home court, with our fans, but the situation with the visa to Morocco is a bit hard and complicated. But for us we are going to be ready no matter where we are playing."
View this post on Instagram
Sadi went on to explain what it would mean for Libya to make it to the AfroBasket Qualifiers. "[our country] has been in war for ten years. We came a long way... so this gives us a lot of motivation to work harder and give our best. We love basketball, Libyan fans are great; we have great talents and super humble people trying to show everyone that everything is possible."
Sadi remembers how watching the 2009 AfroBasket on home soil gave him a basketball purpose, but, he insists, "Our main focus now is on the upcoming games . [We are taking] one game at a time... We respect every opponent that we are going to play against. The African region is showing huge improvement and all national teams are getting better and stronger every year."
Mohamed Sadi is seen here in action during the 2019 qualifiers for the BAL
Sadi has often seen as a poster boy of Libyan basketball, and when the opportunity to become the first Libyan to appear in the inaugural season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) emerged, he seized it, playing for Senegal's AS Douanes.
"The BAL is a very tough competition, you get the chance to play against great players. I've learned a lot and I'm looking forward to next year to play the BAL with my Libyan Team Al Ahli Tripoli," he opined.
FIBA