| LFF Sacks Fauzi Benzarti: We Now Await New Coach for 2012 African Nations Cup 22/03/2009 11:04:00 | ||
| THE Libyan Football Federation is looking for a new coach for the national team after sacking Tunisian coach Fauzi Benzarti a few months short of the expiry of his two-year contract.As normally happens in football, the blame for failure is always put at the coach’s feet. Therefore it is no surprise that Benzarti got the brunt for Libya’s failure in the recently concluded African Championship for Nations (CHAN) held in the Ivory Coast.Benzarti, 59, was appointed Libya’s coach in 2007 with the specific undertaking of qualifying the national team to the 2010 World Cup. He nearly succeeded in reaching the first stage of this qualification when the team was eliminated from the group stage on goal difference.The Tunisian coach was often lauded for the way he guided the Libyan team and the unity he created. There were high expectations that having qualified the side to the African Championship for Nations, success in the Ivory Coast would have been some consolation.However, Libya failed miserably in the tournament. It only managed two draws against Ghana and Tanzania after a heavy defeat against the eventual winners RD Congo. It was eliminated as the bottom team in Group B.Benzarti joined Libya after coaching spells with Tunisian clubs ES Sahel and Esperance, where he now returns. Esperance president Hamdi Aluadep has signed Benzarti till the end of the current season. Depending on the outcome he could be given a more attractive and lengthy contract after June.Libya had already started the qualifying games for the 2008 African Cup of Nations when Benzarti was given the job. He failed to lead them to qualification despite being drawn in what was seen as an easy group along with DR Congo, Namibia and Ethiopia.Despite great home form, embarrassing away defeats in Addis Ababa and Windhoek prevented qualification.The next challenge for the Libyans was the qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.They were drawn in Group 5 with 2006 quarter-finalists Ghana, Gabon and Lesotho. A 3-0 defeat away to Ghana was the only real setback in the group. An own goal from Bruno Manga gave Libya their first win in the group, 1-0 at home to Gabon.They then went on to win their next three games, 1-0 away to Lesotho, 4-0 at home to Lesotho, and, the biggest shock of the group, 1-0 at home to Ghana, where Ahmed Saad scored an 87th minute winner. This result left Libya in a great position to qualify for the Third Round of qualifiers.Libya’s final group game away to Gabon, where Ghana had already lost 2-0, was a tough one. Libya needed only a point to cement qualification. Despite domination from the Libyans throughout, they failed to take their chances, and were punished when Bruno Mbanangoye rifled in a shot from 20 yards to give Gabon the win in the 83rd minute. Libya were therefore eliminated on goal difference.Libya had a chance to come back from this heartbreaking ending with the qualifiers for the 2009 African Championship of Nations. It overcame Egypt, Tunisia, and finally, Morocco to go through to the tournament.But in the Ivory Coast the players’ lack of fitness showed throughout the tournament. They only scored one goal and the Greens finished bottom of their group.The sacking of coach Benzarti was a foregone conclusion, and he has now agreed a move to his native country, Tunisia to take charge of ES Tunis for the rest of the season. |
LFF Sacks Fauzi Benzarti: We Now Await New Coach for 2012 African Nations Cup
**Amin Ahmed** is a Libyan journalist and contributor at TripoliPost, reporting on current affairs, business, and regional developments. With a keen eye for detail and a dedication to fair, balanced journalism, he delivers stories that keep readers informed about Libya and the world beyond its borders. He can be reached at amin.ahmed@tripolipost.com
Leave a Comment
