Libya’s national mini-football team arrived at Benina International Airport this Saturday morning before heading to Derna to participate in the prestigious Master Cup tournament, which kicks off on Sunday, December 15.
The team is gearing up for the tournament’s opening match against Romania, the reigning world champion and six-time European Cup winner. The highly anticipated match is scheduled for 6 PM tomorrow at Derna’s stadium.
The game will be officiated by an Egyptian international referee team, led by referee Hesham Tawfiq, with assistants Mohamed Mahmoud and Alaa Zidan. The event is supported by the General Director of the Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund, Engineer Belqasim Haftar.
The Libyan mini-football team has shown promise in its recent matches. They secured victories over Lebanon (4-2) and Tunisia (1-0), drew 0-0 with Egypt, and narrowly lost to Serbia (4-3) and Hungary (2-1). With these results, the team is determined to deliver a strong performance in the Master Cup, aiming to solidify their reputation in mini-football.
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations.
Libya’s economy, heavily reliant on oil, has suffered due to the ongoing conflict. The instability has led to fluctuations in oil production and prices, impacting the global oil market and Libya’s economy.
The conflict has led to a significant humanitarian crisis in Libya, with thousands of people killed, and many more displaced. Migrants and refugees using Libya as a transit point to Europe have also faced dire conditions.
The planned elections for December 2021 were delayed due to disagreements over election laws and the eligibility of certain candidates. This delay has raised concerns about the feasibility of a peaceful political transition.
Despite the ceasefire, security remains a significant concern with sporadic fighting and the presence of mercenaries and foreign fighters. The unification of the military and the removal of foreign forces are crucial challenges.
