The Sudanese national team achieved a difficult victory last Sunday against the Libyan national team The Sudanese national team achieved a difficult victory last Sunday against the Libyan national team. At the beginning of its football competition in the 12th Pan Arab Games, currently held in the Qatari capital (Doha 2011), the African team triumphed over its counterpart with a 1¬0 in the first round of games, Group C.
Libyan coach, Brazilian Marcos Paqueta, said the team played a high level match against its Sudanese rival despite the absence of some of its key players.
Paqueta explained that the main purpose of Libya’s participation in the Pan Arab Games is to prepare for the finals of the African Cup. Talking about the game that Libya lost, Mr. Paqueta said that the reason was an individual mistake by goalkeeper Samir Aboud, whereas the goal leading to the victory of the Sudanese team, by Mohamed Marhoum, was made nine minutes before the end of the game.
As Libyans` chances to qualify still stand, Paqueta declared that the team will work on avoiding the same errors before the next game.
The Sudanese team gained its first three points to be on the lead, while the Libyans came out with no goals. In Group B, both Saudi and Omani teams gained a point after a draw where Omani team ended up playing with only nine players, following the sending off of Ghalib Hafiz and Ali Hilal. The Jordanian team instead achieved a striking victory of 4-1 over the Palestinian team.
Mr. Paqueta expressed his happiness in a press statement about returning to Qatar for the Pan Arab Games, saying that he is also glad with his experience with the Libyan team in the current period. Commenting on Libya`s qualification to the African cup, which will start next month, he said “The national team players were responsible men and were able to please the Libyan people after qualifying for the upcoming finals.” The coach also highlighted that the players overcame all the difficulties of recent events that rocked the country.
Libyans whho flooded coffee shops were disappointed after their team`s loss, but are however still hopeful to qualify by winning the next game.