Libya men's national basketball team

Libya
FIBA ranking92 1 (3 March 2026)[1]
Joined FIBA1961
FIBA zoneFIBA Africa
National federationLibya Arab Basketball Federation
CoachSam Vincent
FIBA Africa Championship
Appearances5
Biggest defeat
 Libya 52–115 South Sudan 
(Moçâmedes, Angola; 14 August 2025)

The Libyan national basketball team represents Libya in international basketball matches and is controlled by the Kurat As-Sallah al-Leebiyyah (Libyan Basketball Federation). Libya has been an official affiliate of FIBA since 1961.[2]

They finished 5th at the African Basketball Championship twice. The country hosted the AfroBasket 2009 event where they finished 11th, ahead of heavily favored Morocco and Mozambique.

History

Libya became a member of FIBA in 1961 but has made only sporadic appearances at AfroBasket, participating in 1965, 1970, and 1978, before hosting the tournament in 2009 in Tripoli and Benghazi. As hosts, they finished 11th with a 3–4 record. The tournament that year was played at the African Union Arena (Tripoli) and Suliman Ad-Dharrath Arena (Benghazi).[3]

Following the 2009 AfroBasket, Libya endured a prolonged absence from the continental stage until the qualifying cycle for AfroBasket 2025. In a dramatic turn in **February 2024**, they upset Morocco in the Zone 1 Pre-Qualifiers in Monastir, Tunisia—winning on aggregate to advance to the main qualification round.[4]

In the first qualifying window, Libya posted a strong 2–1 record: earning a thrilling overtime win against Nigeria (89–82), falling narrowly to Cape Verde, and defeating Uganda (71–59).[5][6]

Their qualifier campaign continued with momentum in the second window, finishing with a 4–2 record—including key wins over Cape Verde and Uganda—thereby securing their first AfroBasket qualification in 16 years. The achievement sparked widespread celebrations across Libya, particularly in Tripoli, where fans welcomed them with singing, fireworks, and national pride.[7]

Central to this renaissance was team captain Mohamed Sadi, who etched his name into AfroBasket lore by recording the first-ever triple-double in tournament qualifying history—24 points, 12 assists, and 10 steals in the opening qualifier against Nigeria.[8]

Libya also enjoyed regional success, capturing a silver medal at the **2023 Arab Nations Championship** in Cairo—their first final appearance in the tournament—after falling to hosts Egypt in the final.[9]

Performance at international competitions

Overall, Libya has competed in many international competitions, including the 2005 Islamic Solidarity Games, and the 2007 Pan Arab Games. The Libyan national team participated in the FIBA Africa Championship games four times, in 1965, 1970, 1978 and 2009, where they placed fifth, fifth, tenth and eleventh respectively.

Summer Olympics

Yet to qualify

World championships

Yet to qualify

FIBA Africa Championship

Year Round Position GP W L
1962 Did not qualify
1964
1965 Main round 5th 5 1 4
1968 Did not qualify
1970 Fifth place 5th 3 1 2
1972 Did not qualify
1974
1975
1978 Classification stage 10th 5 0 5
1980 Did not qualify
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1992
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009 Classification stage 11th 8 3 5
2011 Did not qualify
2013
2015
2017
2021
2025 Preliminary round 16th 3 0 3
Total 24 5 19

Pan Arab Games

See also: Basketball at the Pan Arab Games
  • 2004:

Mediterranean Games

See also: Basketball at the Mediterranean Games

Never participated

Beginning with the 2018 event, regular basketball was replaced by 3x3 basketball.

Islamic Solidarity Games

See also: Basketball at the Islamic Solidarity Games
  • 2005 – 11th
  • 2013 – Did not participate

Beginning with the 2017 event, regular basketball was replaced by 3x3 basketball.

Arab Nations Cup

See also: Arab Nations Cup (basketball)
  • 1978-2005 – ?
  • 2007 – Quarterfinals
  • 2008 – First round
  • 2009 – Quarterfinals
  • 2011-2018 – Did not participate

Team

Current roster

Team for the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket.[10]

Libya national basketball team roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr.
SG 2 Ali Madi 26 – (1999-02-17)17 February 1999 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Al Ittihad Tripoli
G 5 Naseim Badrush 26 – (1998-10-13)13 October 1998 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Al Ahli Tripoli
F 8 Adrees Zeew 25 – (2000-05-10)10 May 2000 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Al Ahli Benghazi
PF 9 Sofian Hamad (C) 26 – (1998-10-16)16 October 1998 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Al Ahli Benghazi
C 11 Abdulgader Rezg 28 – (1997-01-28)28 January 1997 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) Al Ittihad Tripoli
F 14 Abdulajabar Aboufardah 24 – (2000-12-01)1 December 2000 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Al Ahli Tripoli
PF 15 Wajdi Dawo 36 – (1988-10-29)29 October 1988 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Al Ahli Tripoli
PF 23 Ghayth Almaghribi 26 – (1999-01-25)25 January 1999 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Al Ahli Benghazi
PG 30 Mahmoud Benalhaj 34 – (1991-01-25)25 January 1991 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Al Ahli Benghazi
G 31 Ali Arheemah 22 – (2003-03-03)3 March 2003 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Al Ittihad Tripoli
PG 98 Ahmed Algharabi 27 – (1998-06-12)12 June 1998 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Al Ahli Tripoli
F 99 Mohamed Buzgaiya 26 – (1999-01-17)17 January 1999 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) Al-Nasr SC
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the tournament
  • Age – describes age
    on 12 August 2025

Head coach position

Past rosters

At the 2015 Afrobasket qualification:[11]

Libya men's national basketball team roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr.
4 Abdulaziz Sudani 35 – (1980-01-01)1 January 1980
5 Mahmoud Abdalla Benalhaj 24 – (1991-01-25)25 January 1991
6 Tarek A. Farag Al Beigow 22 – (1993-01-14)14 January 1993
7 Nadir Ayad 31 – (1984-05-01)1 May 1984 Al-Ahly SC (Benghazi)
8 Otman A. Otman Sedek 27 – (1988-06-13)13 June 1988
9 Eslam Ibrahim El Karbal 32 – (1983-05-21)21 May 1983
10 Milad Mohamed 27 – (1988-04-15)15 April 1988 Al-Ahly SC (Benghazi)
11 Eslam Ibrahim El Karbal 32 – (1983-05-21)21 May 1983
12 Omar Abdel Raman O. Derfeili 18 – (1997-03-02)2 March 1997
13 Anis Zaid Ali Elmansouri 20 – (1995-01-04)4 January 1995
14 Abdalla Shalabi 24 – (1991-01-11)11 January 1991 Al-Wahda SC (Tripoli)
15 Wajdi Omran Saied Dawo 26 – (1988-10-29)29 October 1988
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Legend
  • Club – describes last
    club before the tournament
  • Age – describes age
    on 19 August 2015


Team for the 2009 FIBA Africa Championship.[12]

Libya national basketball team roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr.
F/C 4 Raed El-Hamali 29 – (1979-08-08)8 August 1979 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Al Wasl
G 5 Mohamed Youssif Kuneidir 23 – (1986-01-10)10 January 1986 Al-Ahly
G 6 Mohamed Issa Mrsal 31 – (1978-01-01)1 January 1978
F/C 7 Hesham Ali Salem 25 – (1984-05-13)13 May 1984 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) La Guaira BBC
8 Mohamed Moftah Abu-Khir 22 – (1987-03-04)4 March 1987 Al Ittihad
9 Khaled Saad Matrud 19 – (1989-11-09)9 November 1989
C 10 Yahya Shakmak 24 – (1985-01-01)1 January 1985 Al Nasr Benghazi
12 Alamien Mohamed Yagoub 28 – (1981-03-01)1 March 1981
13 Mohamed Abdallah Belhaj 24 – (1985-07-25)25 July 1985
14 Wajdi Omran Dawo 20 – (1988-10-29)29 October 1988
G/F 15 Al-Fath Belgasem 29 – (1980-02-04)4 February 1980 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) Bakersfield Jam
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Osman Bangora
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • nat field describes country
    of last club
    before the tournament
  • Age field is age on 5 August 2009

Kit

Manufacturer

2009: Nike[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "FIBA World Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 3 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  2. ^ [1], fiba.com, accessed 15 August 2013.
  3. ^ "Team Profile: First AfroBasket for Libya since 2009". FIBA.basketball. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Libyan basketball is winning the hearts of a nation". FIBA.basketball. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  5. ^ "AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers: Libya record slim win over Nigeria's D'Tigers". Premium Times. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Libya beats Uganda in AfroBasket qualifiers". Libya Observer. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  7. ^ "How Libya ended a 16-year AfroBasket drought". FIBA.basketball. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Team Profile: First AfroBasket for Libya since 2009". FIBA.basketball. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Libya's national basketball team falls to Egypt in its first Arab Basketball Championship finals appearance, places second overall". Al-Wasat. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Team roster: Libya" (PDF). fiba.basketball. 12 August 2025. p. 8.
  11. ^ Libya | 2015 African Championship for Men, ARCHIVE.FIBA.COM. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  12. ^ Libya | 2009 FIBA Africa Championship for Men, ARCHIVE.FIBA.COM. Retrieved 22 Jan 2016.
  13. ^ [2] Interbasket.net. Accessed on 25 September 2015.
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