The Libyan Premier League (Arabic: الدوري الليبي الممتاز) is the men's top professional football division of the Libyan football league system. Administered by the Competition Organizing Committee in the Libyan Football Federation (Arabic: لجنة تنظيم المسابقات بالإتحاد الليبي لكرة القدم), Libyan Premier League is contested by 22 teams divided into two groups of 11 (previously 20, split into groups of 10. changed as of the 23/24 season), with the two lowest-placed teams of each group relegated to the First Division.
| Organising body | Libyan Football Federation (LFF) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1963 |
| Country | Libya |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Number of teams | 22 (currently 21, Darnes Derna have been suspended for one season and will be reinstated into the league the following season due to the aftermath of Storm Daniel) |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Libyan First Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | Libyan Cup Libyan SuperCup |
| International cup(s) | CAF Champions League CAF Confederation Cup |
| Current champions | Al-Ittihad (19 titles) |
| Most championships | Al-Ittihad (19 titles) |
| TV partners | Libya Sport TV |
| Current: 2023–24 | |
51 have competed in Libyan Premier League since its inception. Ten teams have been crowned champions, with Al-Ittihad winning the title a record 18[1] times and Al-Ahly Tripoli 13 times. Al-Ahly Tripoli won the inaugural Premier League in 1963. Al-Ahly Tripoli and Al-Ahly Benghazi dominated the championship in the 1970s, winning four titles and two titles respectively throughout the decade. Al-Ittihad dominated the League through the 2000s, winning 8 titles.
The league has been ranked by the IFFHS as the 56th highest in the world for 2009, making it the sixth-highest ranked league in the Arab world, after the Saudi Professional League (32nd), the Egyptian Premier League (34th), the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 (48th), the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 (54th) and the Sudan Premier League (55th), and the eighth highest in Africa, after the Nigerian Professional Football League (30th), Egyptian Premier League, the Girabola in Angola (42nd), Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1, Zambia Super League (53rd), Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 and Sudan Premier League.[2]
History edit
The Libyan Premier League was founded in 1963. Prior to that, there were three Provincial Championships, one each for the Eastern, Western and Southern provinces. The first league season at national level was the 1963-64 season, in which participated the Western Province champion Al Ahly (Tripoli), the Eastern Province champion Al Ahly (Benghazi) and the Southern Province champion Hilal Sabha. After the withdrawal of Hilal Sabha due to lack of resources, the league was limited to just two teams. Al Ahly (Tripoli) defeated Al Ahly (Benghazi) 2-0 over two matches (1-0 home and away) to become the first Libyan Premier League champions.
Winners edit
Al Ittihad are the most successful Libyan club, having won 18 titles, including 6 straight titles (from 2004–05 to 2009–10. Their arch rivals Al Ahly (Tripoli) have won it 13 times.
The last team to win the title from outside the capital was al- Naser fc, who won the league in the 2018 season. The Big Two (Al Ahly (Tripoli) & Al Ittihad) have won 31 of the 48 titles that have been contested since 1964.
Champions by season edit
Winners are:[3]
Performance by club edit
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Ittihad (Tripoli) | 18
|
7
|
1964–65, 1965–66, 1968–69, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2020–21 , 2021–22 |
| Al Ahli (Tripoli) | 13
|
11
|
1963–64, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1977–78, 1983–84, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2000, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2022–23 |
| Al Ahly (Benghazi) | 4
|
9
|
1969–70, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1991–92 |
| Al Madina (Tripoli) | 3
|
2
|
1975–76, 1982–83, 2000–01 |
| Al Tahaddi (Benghazi) | 3
|
1
|
1966–68, 1976–77, 1996–97 |
| Al Nasr (Benghazi) | 2
|
4
|
1987, 2017–18 |
| Al Mahala (Tripoli) | 2
|
1
|
1997–98, 1998–99 |
| Al Dhahra | 1
|
0
|
1984–85 |
| Aschat S.C. | 1
|
0
|
1995–96 |
| Al Olympique | 1
|
0
|
2003–04 |
Titles by city edit
| City | Titles | Winning clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Tripoli | 38
|
Al Ittihad (18), Al Ahli (13), Al Madina (3), Al Mahala (2), Al Dhahra (1), Al Shat (1) |
| Benghazi | 9
|
Al Ahly (4), Al Tahaddi (3), Al Nasr (2) |
| Zawiya | 1
|
Al Olympique (1) |
2023–24 Clubs edit
Group 1
| Team | Location | Sha'biyah | Stadium | Capacity[6] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Ahly | Benghazi | Benghazi | Martyrs of February Stadium | 10,550 |
| Al Hilal | Benghazi | Benghazi | Martyrs of February Stadium | 10,550 |
| Al Sadaqa SC | Shahhat | Shahhat | Shahhat Stadium | 10,000 |
| Al Ta'awon | Ajdabya | Ajdabya | 10 June Stadium | |
| Al Akhdar | Bayda | Bayda | Sheikh Chadae Stadium | 10,000 |
| Al Nasr | Benghazi | Benghazi | Martyrs of February Stadium | 10,550 |
| Al-Suqoor | Tobruk | Tobruk | Tobruk Stadium | 8,000 |
| Al Tahaddy | Benghazi | Benghazi | March 28 Stadium | 55,000 |
| Al-Morouj SC | Marj | Marj | Al Marj Stadium | |
| Al-Anwar | Al-Abyar | Al-Abyar | Martyrs of Al-Abyar Stadium |
Group 2
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Salem SC | Tripoli | Abu Salem Stadium | |
| Al Ahli | Tripoli | GMR Stadium | 4000 |
| Al-Ittihad | Tripoli | Jumayl Stadium | |
| Al Khums | Al Khums | Al Khums Stadium | |
| Al-Madina | Tripoli | GMR Stadium | 4000 |
| Alittihad Misurata | Misurata | Al Shumooa Stadium | |
| Al Bashayr | Misurata | Al Shumooa Stadium | |
| Asaria SC | Zawiya | Olympic Stadium | 8,000 |
| Asswehly | Misurata | Al Shumooa Stadium | |
| Olympic Azzaweya | Zawiya | Olympic Stadium | 8,000 |
| Libyan Stadium SC | Tripoli | GMR Stadium | 4,000 |
Top scorers by season edit
Top scorers are:[citation needed]
Regulations edit
The rules can be found on the official LFF website.[7]
References edit
- ^ "Al-Ittihad beat Al-Ahly Tripoli to win Libyan League title for the 18th time in their history". Footballghana. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ IFFHS. Archived from the original.
- ^ "Libya - List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "Algeria offer to step in for Libya". aljazeera.com. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ^ "Al-Ittihad beat Al-Ahly Tripoli to win Libyan League title for the 17th time in their history". Ghana Football. 9 August 2021.
- ^ "Stadium information at goalzz.com". Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- ^ Regulations at LFF Archived 24 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine (in Arabic)
External links edit
- League at FIFA (archived 21 August 2007)
- Libyan Premier League – Hailoosport (in Arabic)
- Libyan Premier League – Hailoosport