2007–08 Libyan Premier League Explained

Season:2007–08
Winners:Al Ittihad
14th Libyan Premier League title
League Topscorer: Abdelhameed Zidane (21)
Biggest Home Win:Al Ahly Tripoli 10-2 Al Suqoor
(2007-12-07)
Biggest Away Win:Al Wahda 1–5 Al Ittihad (2007-10-11)
Al Suqoor 0-4 Al Ittihad (2008-07-19)
Highest Scoring:Al Ahly Tripoli 10-2 Al Suqoor
(2007-12-07)
Nextseason:2008–09

Libyan Premier League 2007/2008 was the 41st edition of the Libyan Premier League, the highest division of Libyan football, organised by the Libyan Football Federation.

Season summary

In a more closely contested league contest than in recent seasons, Al Ittihad took until week 28 to secure their 14th league title. Al Ahly Tripoli challenged their close rivals all the way in the title race, but just four points from their last three games, including a humiliating 1-0 defeat to eventually relegated Al Tahaddy, ended their title hopes and their 29-game unbeaten record, which had lasted all year. Al Ittihad also went through the league season unbeaten. After just one defeat in the 2006-07 season, this shows signs that the Big Two are pulling even further away, proved by the 20-point gap between 2nd placed Al Ahly Tripoli and 3rd placed Al Ahly Benghazi.

2007-08 was a very successful season for Khaleej Sirte. The club won two trophies (its first major honours since the three Sirte clubs merged to form Khaleej Sirte). The club won the Libyan Confederation Cup, a newly created trophy similar to England's League Cup, before later lifting the Libyan Cup, beating Al Madina in a tense final 1-0.

At the bottom, Al Suqoor and Nojom Ajdabiya both had very poor seasons, with just 9 wins between the two sides. Al Suqoor suffered one of the worst defeats in Libyan history, as they were crushed 10-2 by A Ahli Tripoli. Al Urouba did put up a decent fight, winning 4 of their last 7 matches, nearly half of the number of wins they had obtained in their previous 23 matches. In the end, they paid the price for losing to relegation rivals.

The Relegation/Promotion play-off place was an interesting battle. Three teams were on 33 points, and it was head-to-head record that sent Al Tahaddy to their eventual relegation.

In general, the league was pretty close, with just 10 points separating 5th placed Khaleej Sirte from 14th placed (and relegated) Al Urouba.

The competition

There are 16 clubs in the League. During the course of the season each clubs plays others two times, for a total of 30 games. At the end of season, the bottom three sides are automatically relegated to the Libyan Second Division, and the fourth bottom side goes into the Relegation play-off.

The winner of the LPL qualifies for the CAF Champions League, and the top two sides qualify for the Arab Champions League, while the Libyan Cup winner qualifies for the CAF Confederation Cup

Clubs

ClubCityStadium
Ahly BenghaziBenghazi28 March Stadium
Ahly TripoliTripoli11 June Stadium
AkhdarBaydaGreen Document Stadium
JazeeraZuwaraZuwara Stadium
Nojom AjdabiyaAjdabiya10 March Stadium
IttihadTripoli11 June Stadium
MadinaTripoli11 June Stadium
NasrBenghazi28 March Stadium
OlombyZawiyaZaawia Stadium
Al ShatTripoliAli Alsgozy Stadium
SuqoorTobruk2 March Stadium
TahaddyBenghazi28 March Stadium
Khaleej SirteSirte2 March Stadium
WahdaTripoliGMR Stadium
UroubaAjaylatAjaylat Stadium
TersanahTripoliGMR Stadium

Statistics

Top goalscorers

21 goals
18 goals
16 goals
13 goals
12 goals
11 goals

Awards

External links