By Seraj Essul.
Tripoli, 27 March 2013:
Libya will be able . . .[restrict]to host home football games, now that the country’s security situation has “returned to normal,” according to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The decision came following a four-day visit from a high-level delegation from the CAF, to inspect both Tripoli and Benghazi football fields and to check on the current security situation.
A media officer at the Ministry for Youth and Sport confirmed to the Libya Herald that the CAF has decided to lift the ban on hosting football matches on home turf. The delegation, he said, started their visit watching football matches in Tripoli, including one between Ittihad and Al Madina.
The CAF members then flew to Benghazi, where they were met by Mustafa Abdul Jalil. They watched another friendly match on Saturday, between Benghazi teams Al Nasr and Al-Ahly.
The delegation left with “a good impression” of the country, the media officer said, adding that they thanked the Libyan people for their efforts and hospitality.
The CAF said: “Following the report by the delegation indicating its satisfaction from the result of the visit and noticing that the situation in the country has gone back to normal, the CAF has decided to lift the ban imposed on Libya from organising the home matches of all the libyan teams in its territory.”
The last international football match played in Libya was in February 2011. The revolution then prevented further matches from being played on home soil. [/restrict]
