TRIPOLI (Libya) – Libya ended a 16-year AfroBasket drought in remarkable fashion.
Few saw it coming, but a combination of key factors wrote a new chapter in the country's basketball history.
How did they do it?
Perseverance, self-belief and a deep desire to live the AfroBasket experience again played a big part in Libya's return to the AfroBasket festival in Angola later this year.
We're not going to Angola for fun or just to take part or have a good time, we're going to compete and make our country proud - Mohamed Sadi.
It all started in early February 2024 when Libya beat Morocco in a two-game AfroBasket pre-qualifying round.
Then a successful campaign in the AfroBasket qualifiers, where Libya won four of their six games, was the culmination of a lifelong dream.
Libya finished top of Group B, which included Cape Verde, Nigeria and Uganda.
News of Libya's qualification for the AfroBasket began with songs and fireworks at the Grand Hall in Tripoli and spread across the country.
Most of Libya's new heroes were young teenagers when their country last played in the competition as hosts of AfroBasket 2009 in Tripoli and Benghazi.
Among them was team star Mohamed Sadi, now a 29-year-old all-rounder.
"We played a good game and made our family and friends happy. We made history for our country, Libya," Sadi said minutes after Libya's nerve-racking 69-66 win over Uganda ended their qualifying campaign.
Sadi continued: "Since 2009, when I was a kid, we didn't go to AfroBasket and thank God we came back now.
"This is like a dream because when I was a kid I saw my national team play in 2009 and after that I didn't see them play again. Now I am part of the team and I am the captain.
"It means a lot to me and I'd like to thank everyone for supporting us because it's the result of hard work from our camp in Egypt where we trained twice a day."
Sadi was dominant for Libya, averaging 13.7 points, 6.2 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 steals per game.
He left his mark on the competition by becoming the first player in the history of the AfroBasket Qualifiers to record a triple-double.
"We wanted to win all three [home] games to finish top of Group B, but we lost one to Nigeria because they changed most of the players from the first window in Tunisia," Sadi admitted.
Having qualified for Angola with their fans celebrating at the top of their lungs, the 28-year-old says Libya are not going to Angola to make up the numbers, but to compete.
"We're not going to Angola for fun or just to take part or have a good time, we're going to compete and make our country proud. Libya have great players and a great coach who believes in us.
The Al Ahli SC Tripoli star, who will be playing in the 2025 Basketball Africa League season, said the focus on the national team achieving their set goal of qualifying was great and pointed out that the success achieved meant the world to him.
"For me personally, as the captain of the team, this experience is great because I remember as a young kid in 2009 watching my national team and now leading the country to the AfroBasket means a lot to me," Sadi added.
Another key factor in Libya's success has been the arrival of veteran coach Fouad Chakra, who has coached his native Lebanon on several occasions.
"Sadi is two players in one and every day he is out there doing everything for the team from 22 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals and he is the captain. He inspires us to fight, he inspires his teammates," said Chakra.
"His leadership is infectious and makes his teammates fighters. I give credit to the team and I am proud of them for what they have done for the country. Libya will dominate basketball in Africa and the Arab world," said the coach.
FIBA