Libya’s U-17 national team suffered a 2–1 defeat against Egypt in the North African qualifiers for the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations, in a match played in Benghazi on Thursday. The result places Libya in a difficult position as it continues to struggle in the competition.
Libya made a strong start and managed to take the lead in the 34th minute after a well-executed attacking move. The goal reflected the team’s positive first-half performance, as Libya showed good organization and control while limiting Egypt’s attacking opportunities.
After the break, Egypt responded with increased intensity. The equalizer came in the 48th minute through Ahmed Safwat, shifting momentum in Egypt’s favor. Libya found it increasingly difficult to maintain possession and contain Egypt’s pressure during the second half.
The turning point came in the 68th minute when Egypt was awarded a penalty. Mohamed Gamal converted the spot kick to give his side a 2–1 lead. Despite attempts to respond, Libya was unable to find an equalizer in the remaining minutes.
The defeat highlights recurring challenges for Libya, including difficulty maintaining leads and converting chances. While the team demonstrated resilience and discipline in parts of the match, lapses in concentration proved decisive.
Libya had previously suffered defeats against Algeria and Tunisia, and this latest result further reduces its chances of qualifying for the tournament. The team now faces growing pressure to improve performance in its remaining fixtures.
Egypt, meanwhile, strengthened its position in the standings with this win. After opening with a victory against Tunisia and losing narrowly to Morocco, this result keeps Egypt in contention for qualification.
