TRIPOLI (Libya) - Libya last qualified for the FIBA AfroBasket when it hosted the tournament in 2009.
Since then, basketball in that country had gone quiet on the international stage until a year ago.
It's been a long time, so we want to make every effort to bring happiness to the Libyan fans to qualify for AfroBasket after being absent for more than 14 years. - Naseim Badrush
Recently, the resurrected national team bounced back with a bang, winning their two-legged AfroBasket pre-qualifier against Morocco last year. Also, they impressed in the first round of qualifiers for the elite men's competition.
Ahead of the final round of qualifiers (21-23 February), there will be an air of confidence within the team that Libya, second placed in Group C with a 2-1 record, can make a fifth appearance at the AfroBasket.
An added incentive for Libya to successfully qualify for the tournament earmarked for Angola is doing so in front of their adoring fans.
One playing forward to the challenge is shooting guard Naseim Badrush, who feels he and this crop of Libyan players can make the country proud.
"It's an honour that it is during the time of my generation that Libya is playing the qualifiers at home. It's been a long time, so we want to make every effort to bring happiness to the Libyan fans to qualify for AfroBasket after being absent for more than 14 years," said Badrush.
The 26-year-old says having a homecourt advantage against their Group B opposition (Cape Verde, Uganda and Nigeria) could give them an upper hand. He feels competing in the Arab championship a few weeks ago has also prepared Libya well.
"In Monastir (Tunisia), we won two games and lost one against Cape Verde. We are at home. We will do everything to win all the games," said Badrush, who averaged 13.5 points, 3.5 and 11 assists per game.
"We competed in the Arab Championship and lost to Egypt in the final, so we feel good," noted the Al Ahli Tripoli guard.
Being part of a new generation of Libyan players, he is excited about the return of his country to the international fray.
"All Libyan players dream of being part of the national team and to play in this type of competition. I think in years to come Libya will be one the best teams in Africa," said Badrush.
He went down memory lane to when Libya hosted the AfroBasket and recalled a game he watched against Egypt.
"I was young, but I remember the game against Egypt and Libya won that game with a buzzer-beater. It was a three-pointer by Raed Elhamali," said Badrush.
Libya has also done well on the club scene, with Al Ahli Benghazi making an appearance in the final of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and this year, a team for the capital, Al Ahli Tripoli, is headed to the same tournament.
How has Libyan basketball turned the corner?
"The clubs have invested quite a lot in the last few years. A lot of quality players compete in our league, and basketball is growing in our country. You see the results with the national team and clubs. We hope to do well in this year's BAL and promote our country's basketball," said Badrush.
Libya has done well in a short time, given recent past and present results. With players like Badrush taking centre stage, the spotlight will certainly keep shining on Libya's basketball.
FIBA