Fairytale Libyans seek winning start

against all odds – playing the Comoros Islands, Mozambique and Zambia in elimination matches as civil war raged across the north African country.
Tripoli-based stars risked their lives travelling by bus from the capital to the Tunisian border while players from rebel cradle Benghazi were shunned until the Muammar Gaddafi’s regime collapsed.
Amid NATO bombs and street gun battles, all domestic football was suspended, leaving unpaid Brazilian coach Marcos Paqueta to mould a new national team during short camps in neighbouring Tunisia.
Libya needed a point from a final-round clash in Zambia to snatch one of two places reserved for runners-up and 39-year-old goalkeeper Samir Aboud made several superb saves to ensure a goalless draw.
It will be the third appearance of Libya at the biennial African football showcase – they hosted the 1982 Cup of Nations and finished runners-up behind Ghana and made a timid first-round exit in Egypt six years ago.
As the Mediterranean Knights arrived in this central African port city of 200 000 people, rebel fighter-cum-midfielder Walid El Khatroushi stressed that “for us this is much more than a football tournament”.
After visiting a friend who lost an arm during the rebellion, Walid abandoned his teammates last year and joined the anti-Gaddafi forces before being persuaded to fight for the nation on the football field.
Serbia-based defender Mohamed El Mounir, one of 10 players based outside the oil-rich state, said: “Many of the team had family members killed during the war so the stakes are high when we wear the colours of our nation.
“Just being here represents success for us and now we want to move on and reach the knockout stages for all the people of Libya. I am proud to be part of a united, motivated squad.”
Libya are ranked 28 places above Equatorial Guinea and would be favoured to overcome the National Lightning just about anywhere except the recently opened and impressive 35 000-seat Estadio de Bata.
While the visitors will be proud ambassadors of the “new” Libya, there will be no shortage of determination on the other side either with President Teodoro Obiang Nguema set to attend. A son of the 33-year ruler of a part-island, part-mainland country rich in oil and gas reserves has also dangled a huge financial carrot in front of the home team with a US$1 million win bonus plus US$20 000 each time they score.
The first of 32 matches in a Cup co-hosted by Gabon will bring together Brazilian tacticians with former Saudi Arabia coach Paqueta up against Gilson Paulo, who succeeded Frenchman Henri Michel only this month. Paulo has promised to “make history” with a team captained by veteran striker Rodolfo Bodipo and the pressure on him is immense with Nguema expecting the national side to “display attractive football, sporting values and win the Cup”.
That is asking a lot of a squad without a recognised star which contains some locals, many Spain-based players of Equatoguinean descent and several footballers from Africa and South America who have been naturalised.
Fixtures for 2012 Africa Cup of Nations
Group A (Bata in Equatorial Guinea unless noted)
January 21: Equatorial Guinea v Libya (8:30pm), Senegal v Zambia (11pm).
January 25: Libya v Zambia (6pm), Equatorial Guinea v Senegal (9pm).
January 29: Libya v Senegal (8pm), At Malabo – Equatorial Guinea v Zambia (8pm).
Group B (Malabo in Equatorial Guinea unless noted)
January 22: Cote d’lvoire v Sudan (6pm), Burkina Faso v Angola (9pm).
January 26: Sudan v Angola (6pm), Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso (9pm).
January 30: Cote d’lvoire v Angola (8pm), At Bata – Sudan v Burkina Faso (8pm).
Group C (Libreville in Gabon unless noted)
January 23: Gabon v Niger (6pm), Morocco v Tunisia (9pm).
January 27: Niger v Tunisia (6pm), Gabon v Morocco (9pm).
January 31: Niger v Morocco (8pm), At Franceville – Gabon v Tunisia (8pm).
Group D (Franceville in Gabon unless noted)
January 24: Ghana v Botswana (6pm), Mali v Guinea (9pm).
January 28: Botswana v Guinea (6pm), Ghana v Mali (9pm).
February 1: Ghana v Guinea (8pm), At Libreville – Botswana v Mali (8pm).
Quarter-finals
February 4 – At Bata: (1) Gp A winners v Gp B runners-up (6pm), At Malabo – (2) Gp B winners v Gp A runners-up (9pm).
February 5 – At Libreville: (3) Gp C winners v Gp D runners-up (6pm), At Franceville – (4) Gp D winners v Gp C runners-up (9pm).
Semi-finals
February 8 – At Bata: Winners 1 v winners 4 (6pm), At Libreville – Winners 2 v winners 3 (9pm).
Third place play-off
February 11 – At Malabo: Losing semi-finalists (9pm).
Final
Februry 12 – At Libreville: Winning semi-finalists (9pm). – AFP.