Thembinkosi Lorch left out of Al-Ittihad Tripoli first-team plans

Al-Ittihad Tripoli have excluded South African forward Thembinkosi Lorch from first-team preparations, just one week before the start of the 2026-2027 Libyan Professional League season.

The decision was made by coach Fawzi Benzarti after the Tunisian reviewed the club’s foreign players following a series of pre-season friendly matches, according to reports by Eram News.

Lorch, 33, joined Al-Ittihad during the February 2026 transfer window from Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca. His time in Libya has so far produced limited results, with the former Sundowns player making seven appearances, scoring once and providing one assist.

Benzarti is understood to have concluded that Lorch had not established himself among the group of new players recruited by Al-Ittihad during the summer transfer window. His exclusion reportedly makes him the first player affected by the club’s foreign-player limit as the squad is reshaped for the new campaign.

The Libyan Football Federation allows clubs to register a maximum of seven foreign players. As a result, Al-Ittihad Tripoli must retain seven non-local players until the next transfer window opens in January 2027.

The club have added significant attacking and midfield options in recent months. Their new arrivals include Moroccan international striker Sofiane Boufal, Libyan defender Ali Youssef, Tunisian players Hamza Ben Abda and Mehdi Gannouni, Burkinabe forward Jacques Diarra and Nigerian midfielder Onuchi Ogbelo.

Benzarti, 76, took charge of Al-Ittihad Tripoli last July after leaving Tunisian club Club Africain unexpectedly. The appointment marked the start of a new spell in the Libyan league for the experienced coach, with Al-Ittihad aiming to return to contention for domestic honours and African competition places.

Lorch’s omission comes shortly before the club begin their league campaign. Al-Ittihad are scheduled to play Al-Shumou’ Club in their opening fixture on Wednesday, October 14, according to Eram News.

The club’s preparations have therefore concluded with Lorch outside the first-team group, while Benzarti finalises the seven foreign players who will remain available before the January 2027 transfer window.