Libya earned a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Botswana in a friendly match held at the Tripoli International Stadium on Saturday, providing crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the upcoming qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The Libyan side, coached by Serbian manager Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević, looked composed and ready for their competitive fixtures, with the solitary goal proving enough to secure the win.
While it wasn’t a high-scoring affair, the result reassured the Libyan squad as they prepare for their first qualifying match against Rwanda on September 4.
The narrow victory also helped bolster confidence within the team, which is seeking to make a strong start to the AFCON 2025 qualifiers.
Libya’s goal came from a well-executed play that caught Botswana’s defense off guard, sealing the result in front of a supportive home crowd.
Micho expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, particularly their defensive organization, though he acknowledged there is still work to be done in the final third.
“The result is important for the team’s morale as we head into the qualifiers, but we must stay focused and continue to improve,” said Micho after the match.
He emphasized the significance of the victory for building momentum, while also noting the areas where Libya will need to sharpen up, particularly in attack.
Botswana, led by French coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa, also used the match as a key opportunity to fine-tune their squad ahead of the qualifiers.
However, the Zebras were unable to find the back of the net and now face the challenge of addressing some tactical issues before their opening match.
For Botswana, the friendly exposed some weaknesses that Gomes Da Rosa will need to address urgently.
Despite a promising start, Botswana struggled to break down Libya’s defense and had difficulty creating clear scoring opportunities.
The coach will now look to reassess his tactics and refine the team’s approach before they travel to Mauritania for their opening AFCON 2025 qualifier on September 4, followed by a home game against Egypt on September 10.
Both coaches fielded teams that closely resembled their likely starting line-ups for the upcoming qualifiers.
Observers noted that both sides experimented with their formations throughout the match, with a number of substitutions and positional switches made as the managers sought to assess their squad depth and flexibility.
For Libya, the victory marks a positive end to this FIFA international window and provides a solid foundation as they look ahead to their upcoming games.
The team will host Rwanda in their first qualifier at the Martyrs of February Stadium, aiming to kick off their campaign with a win before they travel to face Benin on September 10.
With Micho at the helm, Libya will be hoping to build on their recent success and make a strong push for qualification to the continental tournament.
On the other side, Botswana will be seeking to regroup quickly after the defeat. Despite the loss, coach Gomes Da Rosa remains confident that his team can correct their course ahead of their crucial fixtures.
Botswana will need to put this defeat behind them as they gear up for the challenges posed by Mauritania and Egypt, two formidable opponents in their qualifying group.
The road to AFCON 2025 is just beginning for both Libya and Botswana, and while this friendly result may not have lasting implications, it offers a glimpse of the work ahead for each team as they strive for a spot in Africa’s most prestigious football tournament.
