Libyan Premier League 2007-08
Encyclopedia
Libyan Premier League 2007/2008 was the 40th edition of the Libyan Premier League
, the highest division of Libya
n football, organised by the Libyan Football Federation
.
challenged their close rivals all the way in the title race, but just four points from their last three games, including a humiliating 1-0 defeat to eventually relegated Al Tahaddy
, ended their title hopes and their 29-game unbeaten record, which had lasted all year. Al Ittihad also went through the league season unbeaten. After just one defeat in the 2006-07 season, this shows signs that the Big Two are pulling even further away, proved by the 20-point gap between 2nd placed Al Ahly Tripoli
and 3rd placed Al Ahly Benghazi
.
2007-08 was a very successful season for Khaleej Sirte. The club won two trophies (its first major honours since the three Sirte clubs merged together to form Khaleej Sirte). The club won the Libyan Confederation Cup, a newly created trophy similar to England's Carling Cup, before later lifting the Al-Fatih Cup, beating Al Madina
in a tense final 1-0.
At the bottom, Al Suqoor
and Nojoom Ajdabiya
both had very poor seasons, with just 9 wins between the two sides. Al Suqoor
suffered one of the worst defeats in Libyan history, as they were crushed 10-2 by A Ahli Tripoli. Al Urouba did put up a decent fight, winning 4 of their last 7 matches, nearly half of the number of wins they had obtained in their previous 23 matches. In the end, they paid the price for losing to relegation rivals.
The Relegation/Promotion Play Off
place was an interesting battle. Three teams were on 33 points, and it was head-to-head record that sent Al Tahaddy
to their eventual relegation.
In general, the league was pretty close, with just 10 points separating 5th placed Khaleej Sirte from 14th placed (and relegated) Al Urouba.
, and the fourth bottom side goes into the Relegation Play-Off.
The winner of the LPL qualifies for the CAF Champions League
, and the top two sides qualify for the Arab Champions League
, while the Libyan Cup winner qualifies for the CAF Confederation Cup
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(Akhdar)
18 goals William de Souza (Al Tahaddy)
16 goals Ahmed Saad (Ahly Tripoli)
13 goals Abdelmajid Eddine
(Olomby)
12 goals Pan Pierre Koulibaly
(Ittihad) Osama al Fazzani (Ahly Tripoli) Mohamed Zubya
(Ittihad)
11 goals Mahdi Karim
(Ahly Tripoli)
Libyan Premier League
The Libyan Premier League is the highest division of Libyan football championship, organised by Libyan Football Federation. The players that play in this league are mainly professional...
, the highest division of Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
n football, organised by the Libyan Football Federation
Libyan Football Federation
The Libyan Football Federation is the governing body of football in Libya. It was founded in 1962, affiliated to FIFA in 1963 and to CAF in 1965...
.
Season summary
In a more closely contested league contest than in recent seasons, Al Ittihad took until week 28 to secure their 14th league title. Al Ahly TripoliAl Ahly Tripoli
Al-Ahly Tripoli is a Libyan football club based in Tripoli, Libya. The club is the second most successful Libyan club in history, having won 10 Libyan Premier League titles, five Libyan Football Cups and a Libyan SuperCup. Al-Ahly is known as the leader of Libyan Football clubs and has the...
challenged their close rivals all the way in the title race, but just four points from their last three games, including a humiliating 1-0 defeat to eventually relegated Al Tahaddy
Al Tahaddy Benghazi
Attahaddy Benghazi is an Libyan football club based in Benghazi. They were a member of the top division in Libyan football, but were relegated in season 2007/08...
, ended their title hopes and their 29-game unbeaten record, which had lasted all year. Al Ittihad also went through the league season unbeaten. After just one defeat in the 2006-07 season, this shows signs that the Big Two are pulling even further away, proved by the 20-point gap between 2nd placed Al Ahly Tripoli
Al Ahly Tripoli
Al-Ahly Tripoli is a Libyan football club based in Tripoli, Libya. The club is the second most successful Libyan club in history, having won 10 Libyan Premier League titles, five Libyan Football Cups and a Libyan SuperCup. Al-Ahly is known as the leader of Libyan Football clubs and has the...
and 3rd placed Al Ahly Benghazi
Al Ahly Benghazi
Al-Ahly Benghazi is a Libyan football club based in Benghazi, Libya. Mohammed Bashir Al-Mogherbi was the first president of the club. Al-Ahly Benghazi has its roots in a political party, the Omar al Mukhtar society....
.
2007-08 was a very successful season for Khaleej Sirte. The club won two trophies (its first major honours since the three Sirte clubs merged together to form Khaleej Sirte). The club won the Libyan Confederation Cup, a newly created trophy similar to England's Carling Cup, before later lifting the Al-Fatih Cup, beating Al Madina
Al Madina Tripoli
-Honours:*Libyan Premier League: 6*Libyan Cup: 3*Libyan Super Cup: 1-Performance in CAF competitions:*CAF Champions League: 1 appearance...
in a tense final 1-0.
At the bottom, Al Suqoor
Al Soukour
Al Soukour is a Libyan football club based in Tobruk, Libya.-Performance in CAF competitions:*CAF Cup Winners' Cup**First Round : 1990...
and Nojoom Ajdabiya
Nojom Ajdabiya(Ajdabiya)
Nojom Ajdabiya is a Libyan football club based in Ajdabiya, North-East Libya. The club was founded in 1984, and is one of five clubs in Ajdabiya. The club participated in the Libyan Second Division in the 2006-07 season, and was promoted in what was its first season in the division...
both had very poor seasons, with just 9 wins between the two sides. Al Suqoor
Al Soukour
Al Soukour is a Libyan football club based in Tobruk, Libya.-Performance in CAF competitions:*CAF Cup Winners' Cup**First Round : 1990...
suffered one of the worst defeats in Libyan history, as they were crushed 10-2 by A Ahli Tripoli. Al Urouba did put up a decent fight, winning 4 of their last 7 matches, nearly half of the number of wins they had obtained in their previous 23 matches. In the end, they paid the price for losing to relegation rivals.
The Relegation/Promotion Play Off
Relegation Play-Off 2007-08
The Libyan Relegation Play-off was contested between the three second-placed teams in the 3 groups in the Libyan Second Division: Wefaq Sabratah , Al Mustaqbal , and Al Sawa'ed and the 13th placed team in the Libyan Premier League, which was Al Tahaddy. The four sides played each other once at...
place was an interesting battle. Three teams were on 33 points, and it was head-to-head record that sent Al Tahaddy
Al Tahaddy Benghazi
Attahaddy Benghazi is an Libyan football club based in Benghazi. They were a member of the top division in Libyan football, but were relegated in season 2007/08...
to their eventual relegation.
In general, the league was pretty close, with just 10 points separating 5th placed Khaleej Sirte from 14th placed (and relegated) Al Urouba.
The competition
There are 16 clubs in the League. During the course of the season each clubs plays others two times, for a total of 30 games. At the end of season, the bottom three sides are automatically relegated to the Libyan Second DivisionLibyan Second Division
The Libyan Second Division is the second tier of Libyan football championship, organised by Libyan Football Federation.-Winners list:*2004-05 - Al Ahly *2005-06 - Al Nasr*2006-07 - Al Wahda*2007-08 - Al Hilal*2008-09 - Najma...
, and the fourth bottom side goes into the Relegation Play-Off.
The winner of the LPL qualifies for the CAF Champions League
CAF Champions League
The CAF Champions League is an annual international club football competition run by the Confederation of African Football . The top club sides from Africa's football leagues are invited to participate in this competition, which is the premier club football competition on the continent and the...
, and the top two sides qualify for the Arab Champions League
Arab Champions League
The Arab Champions League is a football tournament for clubs in the Arab world. It was inspired by the UEFA Champions League.The Arab Champions League was first known as the Arab Club Champions Cup, and established in 1982. In 2001, it merged with the Arab Cup Winners' Cup to form the new Prince...
, while the Libyan Cup winner qualifies for the CAF Confederation Cup
CAF Confederation Cup
The CAF Confederation Cup is an international club association football competition run by the Confederation of African Football.-Qualification:...
Clubs
| Club | City | Stadium |
|---|---|---|
| Ahly Benghazi | Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya... |
28 March Stadium |
| Ahly Tripoli | Tripoli Tripoli Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three... |
11 June Stadium |
| Akhdar | Bayda | Green Document Stadium |
| Jazeera | Zuwara | Zuwara Stadium |
| Nojoom Ajdabiya | Ajdabiya Ajdabiya Ajdabiya was one of the districts of Libya. It lay in the northeastern part of the country. Its capital was Ajdabiya. As of 2007 it was subsumed within the enlarged Al Wahat District.... |
10 March Stadium |
| Ittihad | Tripoli | 11 June Stadium |
| Madina | Tripoli | 11 June Stadium |
| Nasr | Benghazi | 28 March Stadium |
| Olomby | Zawiya | Zaawia Stadium |
| Shat | Tripoli | Ali Alsgozy Stadium Ali Alsgozy Stadium The Ali Alsgozy Stadium is a football stadium situated in Tripoli, Libya.The stadium has a capacity of around 3,000. It is named after the famous Al Ittihad defender Ali Alsgozy.... |
| Suqoor | Tobruk Tobruk Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 .... |
2 March Stadium Tobrok Stadium Tobruk Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Tobruk, Libya. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Al Soukour. The stadium holds 2,000 people.-External links:*... |
| Tahaddy | Benghazi | 28 March Stadium |
| Khaleej Sirte | Sirte Sirte Sirte is a city in LibyaSirte may also refer to:* Sirte Declaration, a 1999 resolution to create the African Union* Sirte Oil Company, a Libyan oil companyIn geography:* Gulf of Sirte, alias for Gulf of Sidra on Libya's coast... |
2 March Stadium |
| Wahda | Tripoli | GMR Stadium |
| Urouba | Ajaylat | Ajaylat Stadium |
| Tersanah | Tripoli | GMR Stadium |
Statistics
- First Match: Al Ahly TripoliAl Ahly TripoliAl-Ahly Tripoli is a Libyan football club based in Tripoli, Libya. The club is the second most successful Libyan club in history, having won 10 Libyan Premier League titles, five Libyan Football Cups and a Libyan SuperCup. Al-Ahly is known as the leader of Libyan Football clubs and has the...
vs. Nojoom Ajdabiya - September 20, 2007 - First Referee: Naaji al Khabaat - Al Ahly TripoliAl Ahly TripoliAl-Ahly Tripoli is a Libyan football club based in Tripoli, Libya. The club is the second most successful Libyan club in history, having won 10 Libyan Premier League titles, five Libyan Football Cups and a Libyan SuperCup. Al-Ahly is known as the leader of Libyan Football clubs and has the...
vs. Nojoom Ajdabiya - September 20, 2007 - First Goal Scored: Ali Hussein Rehema for Al Ahly TripoliAl Ahly TripoliAl-Ahly Tripoli is a Libyan football club based in Tripoli, Libya. The club is the second most successful Libyan club in history, having won 10 Libyan Premier League titles, five Libyan Football Cups and a Libyan SuperCup. Al-Ahly is known as the leader of Libyan Football clubs and has the...
against Nojoom Ajdabiya - September 20, 2007 - Last Goal Scored: Reyad EllafiReyad EllafiReyad Ellafi is a Libyan footballer. He currently plays for Al-Ittihad.Ellafi is also a member of the Libya national football team, and played in the 2009 African Championship of Nations.-External links:*...
for Al Ittihad against Nojoom Ajdabiya - July 22, 2008 - First Sending Off: Aqila Bousedrah for Nojoom Ajdabiya against Al Ahly TripoliAl Ahly TripoliAl-Ahly Tripoli is a Libyan football club based in Tripoli, Libya. The club is the second most successful Libyan club in history, having won 10 Libyan Premier League titles, five Libyan Football Cups and a Libyan SuperCup. Al-Ahly is known as the leader of Libyan Football clubs and has the...
- September 20, 2007 - Total Number of Goals Scored: 618 (480 matches played - average 1.2875 goals per game)
- Most Goals Scored by One Team: 77 goals - Al Ahly TripoliAl Ahly TripoliAl-Ahly Tripoli is a Libyan football club based in Tripoli, Libya. The club is the second most successful Libyan club in history, having won 10 Libyan Premier League titles, five Libyan Football Cups and a Libyan SuperCup. Al-Ahly is known as the leader of Libyan Football clubs and has the...
- Least Goals Conceded by One Team: 16 goals - Al Ittihad
- Most Goals Conceded by One Team: 69 goals - Al Suqoor
- Biggest Scoreline: Al Ahly TripoliAl Ahly TripoliAl-Ahly Tripoli is a Libyan football club based in Tripoli, Libya. The club is the second most successful Libyan club in history, having won 10 Libyan Premier League titles, five Libyan Football Cups and a Libyan SuperCup. Al-Ahly is known as the leader of Libyan Football clubs and has the...
10 - 2 Al Suqoor - December 12, 2007 - Most Wins: 26 - Al Ittihad
- Most Draws: 13 - Al MadinaAl Madina Tripoli-Honours:*Libyan Premier League: 6*Libyan Cup: 3*Libyan Super Cup: 1-Performance in CAF competitions:*CAF Champions League: 1 appearance...
- Most Defeats: 23 - Nojoom Ajdabiya
League table
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Results
Top goalscorers
21 goals Abdelhameed ZidaneAbdelhameed Zidane
Abdelhameed al Zaidani is a Libyan footballer. He currently plays for Akhdar in the Libyan Premier League. He is a striker, and wears the number 11 jersey.-Career:Al-Zaidani began his career at the Sabha club Sharrara...
(Akhdar)
18 goals William de Souza (Al Tahaddy)
16 goals Ahmed Saad (Ahly Tripoli)
13 goals Abdelmajid Eddine
Abdelmajid Eddine
Abdelmajid Eddine is a Moroccan footballer. He currently plays for Al Arabi in the Kuwaiti Premier League.- Biography :...
(Olomby)
12 goals Pan Pierre Koulibaly
Pan Pierre Koulibaly
Pan Pierre Koulibaly is a Burkinabé football striker, and currently plays for Belgian club KV Mechelen. He is a member of the Burkina Faso national football team. Koulibaly began his career with EFO in Burkina Faso, and joined Al-Ittihad after appearing to have signed a 5-year contract with...
(Ittihad) Osama al Fazzani (Ahly Tripoli) Mohamed Zubya
Mohamed Zubya
Mohammad Noureddine Abdusalam Za'abia is a Libyan footballer. He currently plays for Al Arabi in Kuwaiti Premier League as a striker....
(Ittihad)
11 goals Mahdi Karim
Mahdi Karim
Mahdi Karim Ajeel is an Iraqi footballer. He currently plays as a winger for Arbil FC in Iraq and the Iraq national football team.- Career :...
(Ahly Tripoli)
Awards
- Best Foreign Player (sponsored by Libyana & Al Madar) -
Mahdi KarimMahdi KarimMahdi Karim Ajeel is an Iraqi footballer. He currently plays as a winger for Arbil FC in Iraq and the Iraq national football team.- Career :...
(Al Ahly TripoliAl Ahly TripoliAl-Ahly Tripoli is a Libyan football club based in Tripoli, Libya. The club is the second most successful Libyan club in history, having won 10 Libyan Premier League titles, five Libyan Football Cups and a Libyan SuperCup. Al-Ahly is known as the leader of Libyan Football clubs and has the...
) - Golden Boot -
Abdelhameed Zidane (Al AkhdarAl Akhdar DarnahAlakhdhar -Honours:*Libyan Cup: 0*Libyan SuperCup: 0-Performance in CAF competitions:*CAF Confederation Cup: 2 appearances-Current squad:As of December 4, 2008-Coaching staff:...
) - 21 goals - Goal of the Season - Mahdi KarimMahdi KarimMahdi Karim Ajeel is an Iraqi footballer. He currently plays as a winger for Arbil FC in Iraq and the Iraq national football team.- Career :...
for Al Ahly TripoliAl Ahly TripoliAl-Ahly Tripoli is a Libyan football club based in Tripoli, Libya. The club is the second most successful Libyan club in history, having won 10 Libyan Premier League titles, five Libyan Football Cups and a Libyan SuperCup. Al-Ahly is known as the leader of Libyan Football clubs and has the...
vs. Al MadinaAl Madina Tripoli-Honours:*Libyan Premier League: 6*Libyan Cup: 3*Libyan Super Cup: 1-Performance in CAF competitions:*CAF Champions League: 1 appearance...
- January 4, 2008 - Young Player of the Year -
Sapol ManiSapol ManiSapol Mani is a Togolese football Midfielder currently playing for Al-Ittihad.- Career :Sapol began his career in the youth from Maranatha FC, before in 2007 transferred to Maranatha F.C. an Fiokpo based club, here played two years before sold to Al-Ittihad from Tripoli...
of Al Ittihad