2008–09 Libyan Premier League

The 2008–09 Libyan Premier League season was the forty-first edition of the competition since its establishment in 1963. Al Ittihad were the defending champions, having won their fourteenth Libyan Premier League title with just one round of matches to spare in the previous season. The campaign began on Friday October 17, 2008,^[1][2] delayed due to Libya's World Cup qualifiers, and, depending on the Libyan Cup, is scheduled to finish on June 26, 2009.^[3] A total of 16 teams contested the league, including 13 who competed the previous season and three promoted from the Libyan Second Division. (see Libyan Second Division 2007-08)

The first goal of the season was scored by newly promoted Wefaq Sabratha's Stefan de Paul against 2003-04 champions Al Olomby in the thirty-second minute of the game on the opening day of the season on October 17.^[4][5] Atef Hussein of Al Olomby scored the first hat-trick of the season against Al Sweahly on December 16, netting two in the final six minutes to help his side to a 3–3 draw.^[6][7]

The season paused for its usual mid-season break. However, this season's break was extended due to the national team's participation in the 2009 African Championship of Nations, and participation (at club level) in Africa's continental competitions. The season continued on March 13.^[8]

Wahda Tripoli were the first club to be relegated following a 4–1 defeat to Ahly Benghazi on May 28, 2009.^[9]Wefaq Sabratha's relegation was also confirmed on June 18, 2009 despite defeating Jazeera 4–1, as other results went against them. Jazeera's defeat also meant that they would not be remaining in the division for next season.^[10]Aman al Aam were relegated on the final day of the season. Although they defeated Khaleej Sirte 2–0, they needed Hilal Benghazi to lose to Sweahly to stay up on head-to-head record. Hilal secured a 0–0 draw, ensuring their survival by one point.

Ittihad Tripoli won the title on June 19, 2009 after defeating Sweahly 2–1 to gain an unassailable lead over second-placed Ahly Benghazi.This was Ittihad's 5th league title in succession, and their 15th overall.^[11][12]

Promotion & Relegation

Teams promoted from Libyan Second Division 2007–08

• Champions: Hilal
• Promoted:
  • Sweahly
  • Aman al Aam
• Play-Offs: Wefaq Sabratha

Teams relegated to Libyan Second Division 2008–09

• Urouba
• Suqoor
• Nojom Ajdabiya

League table

Updated to games played on June 26, 2009.
Source: RSSSF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored
¹Tersanah qualify for CAF Confederation Cup as cup runners-up, as Ittihad had already secured a CAF Champions League place
^** Jazeera deducted four points^{[13][14][15][16]}
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
Head-to-Head: used when head-to-head record is used to rank tied teams.

Results

Updated to games played on 26 June 2009.
Source: goalzz.com
1 ^{^} The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

²Match abandoned in the 94th minute with the score 3–2 after Joseph Fausto's sending off. Fighting broke out, and the referee was struck by a missile from the crowd. Remaining minute played on December 3, with no change to the result.^[17]
3The game ended 0–0, but was later awarded as a 2–0 win to Akhdar, as Ahly Benghazi played a suspended player^[18]
4This match was suspended at half-time with the score at 1–1, as fighting broke out between both sets of supporters. The second half was played at the 2 March Stadium.^[19][20]
5Match awarded 2–0 to Ittihad after Jazeera fans invaded pitch and attacked referee, after Ittihad's 95th-minute winner. The referee had earlier given 9 minutes of stoppage time^[13]
6Match awarded 2–0 to Shat after it was discovered that Akhdar played a suspended player. Match had originally finished 3–1 to Akhdar

Team Summary

Club	City	Stadium	Manager	Sponsor	Kit Supplier	Position Last Season
Ahly	Benghazi	March 28 Stadium1	Draghon	Kia, Libyana	Nike	3rd
Ahly	Tripoli	June 11 Stadium	Nourredine al Sa'adi	Al Madar al Jadeed	Nike	2nd
Akhdar	Bayda	Green Document Stadium	Omar al Dheeb	Al Madar al Jadeed	Adidas	4th
Hilal	Benghazi	28 March Stadium1	Ahmed al Sanfaaz	Al Madar al Jadeed	Nike	1st, Group C (Second Division - Champions)
Ittihad	Tripoli	June 11 Stadium	Stefano Cusin	Total S.A., Al Madar al Jadeed	Puma	1st
Jazeera	Zuwara	Zuwara Stadium2	Lutfi Jabbara	Al Madar al Jadeed	Adidas	10th
Madina	Tripoli	11 June Stadium	Mansour Saeed	Libyana	Diadora	7th
Nasr	Benghazi	March 28 Stadium1	Naser al Hdairy	Libyana	Puma	6th
Olomby	Zawiya	Zaawia Stadium	Izzedine Khmealah	Kia, Libyana	Nike	8th
Shat	Tripoli	GMR Stadium	Lutfi Sellami	Libyana	Puma	9th
Sweahly	Misrata	9th July Stadium	Khamees Alabaidy	Min Ajlikum	Puma	1st, Group A (Second Division)
Tersanah	Tripoli	Ali Alsgozy Stadium	Khalid al Marjiny	Min Ajlikum	Adidas	11th
Wahda	Tripoli	GMR Stadium	Otkar Barec	Min Ajlikum	Adidas	12th
Aman al 'Aam	Tripoli	GMR Stadium	Abdulraouf Bnour	Min Ajlikum	Diadora	1st, Group B (Second Division)
Khaleej	Sirte	March 2 Stadium	Abdelhafidh Arbeesh	Libyana	Adidas	5th
Wefaq	Sabratha	Sabratha Stadium Ajaylat Stadium3	Tariq Thabit	Al Madar al Jadeed	Nike	2nd, Group A (Second Division) Promoted via playoffs

¹ As the 28 March Stadium was not re-opened until October 22, 2008, Benghazi clubs played at stadia selected by the Libyan Football Federation. Some fixtures were also re-arranged so that these clubs played away from home for rounds 1 & 2.
² Due to Al Jazeera's ban from their Zuwara Stadium, the club will play their remaining home games at 9 July Stadium for the remainder of the season.
³ Wefaq Sabratha's used the Ajaylat Stadium from rounds 1-8 as their own Sabratha Stadium was undergoing maintenance.

NB: The newly constructed Benina Stadium will be used to host matches held in Benghazi, as the 28 March Stadium is undergoing maintenance. The 28 March Stadium will not be in use for the rest of this season.^[21]

Awards

• Best fans : Ittihad Tripoli^[22]
• Best foreign player : Samer Saeed of Ahly Tripoli^[22]
• Best young player : Abdulaziz Belreesh of Ittihad Tripoli^[22]
• Best goalkeeper : Samir Aboud of Ittihad Tripoli^[22]
• Best defender : Younes Al Shibani of Ittihad Tripoli^[22]
• Best midfielder : Mohamed Esnany of Ittihad Tripoli^[22]
• Best striker : Ahmed Zuway of Ittihad Tripoli^[22]

Season Statistics

^[4]

Goals

• First match of the season: October 17, 2008 - Akhdar vs. Tersanah, 14:00 EET^[23]
• First goal of the season: Stefan de Paul for Wefaq Sabratha against Olomby, 38 minutes and 46 seconds (October 17, 2008)^[23]
• Last goal of the season: Adnan Belaid for Ahly Tripoli against Tersanah, 84th minute (June 26, 2009)
• Fastest goal of the season: 11 seconds - Ismael Bangoura for Al Sweahly against Al Ahly Tripoli (March 25, 2009)^[24]
• First own goal of the season: Jasim al Toumi (Wahda) for Nasr, 90+1 minutes and 32 seconds (April 11, 2009)
• Goal scored at latest point in a match: 90+6 minutes and 36 seconds - Imad al Traiky for Tersanah against Aman al Aam (December 16, 2008)^[6][7]
• Widest winning margin: 8 goals: Shat 1–9 Ahly Tripoli (June 5, 2009)^[25]
• Most goals in a match: 10 goals: Shat 1–9 Ahly Tripoli (June 5, 2009)^[25]
• Most goals in one half: 6 goals - Shat 1–9 Ahly Tripoli (June 5, 2009) 0–4 half time, 1–9 final^[25]
• Most goals scored by one player in a match: 4 goals - Pan Pierre Koulibaly (Ittihad Tripoli) against Wahda Tripoli,  16' (pen.)  24'  29'  81' (21 May 2009)^[26]
• First hat-trick: Atef Hussein for Olomby vs Sweahly (December 17, 2008)^[6][7]
• Fastest hat-trick: Pan Pierre Koulibaly (Ittihad Tripoli) against Wahda (May 21, 2009);  16' (pen.)  24'  29' (13 minutes and 28 seconds)^[26]
• Most goals in one half by a single team: 5 goals - Shat vs. Ahly Tripoli (21 May 2009) 0–4 at half time, 1–9 final^[25]

Discipline

• First sending off of the season: Imaad al Khafi for Tersanah against Akhdar - October 17, 2008 (62nd minute)^[23][27]
• Card given at latest point in a game: Mahmoud Makhlouf (red) at 90+8 minutes and 4 seconds for Ittihad against Jazeera (January 16, 2009)
• First match referred by a Libyan referee: Akhdar vs. Tersanah (October 17, 2008 - Mohammed Azzallawi)^[27]
• First match refereed by a foreign referee: Ahly Tripoli vs. Ahly Benghazi (October 17, 2008 - Khalil Rouaissi)^[27]
• Most red cards in a single match: 4: Akhdar 1–0 Khaleej Sirte - 2 for Akhdar (Khalifa al Mear & Marei Al Ramly) and 2 for Khaleej (Mohammad Abu Rqiqa & Mohammad Shleeq) (June 13, 2009)

Other

• Longest injury time of season: 15 minutes, 4 seconds - Ahly Tripoli 0–2 Ittihad Tripoli (June 10, 2009)

Top scorers

As of June 26, 2009

Rank	Scorer	Club	Goals[28]
1	Samir al Wahaj	Tersanah	19
2	Ahmed Abdelkafi	Shat	17
3	Nader Kara	Ahly Tripoli	14
4	Sarra Camara	Nasr	12
	Ibrahim al Khalil	Ahly Benghazi
6	Atef Hussain1	Ittihad	11
	Ahmed Zuway	Ittihad
8	Abdelhameed Zidane	Akhdar	10
9	Ahmed Saad	Ahly Tripoli	9
	Moataz Ben Amer	Ahly Benghazi
	Younes Baltahaam	Ahly Benghazi
12	Wisaam Boukteaf	Akhdar	8
	Abdelmajid Eddine	Nasr

¹ 7 goals for Al Olomby

Stadia

Khaleej

Sweahly

Benghazi

Wefaq

Jazeera

Tripoli

Akhdar

Olomby

Ahly
Ittihad
Aman al Aam
Tersanah
Shat
Wahda
Madina

Ahly
Hilal
Nasr

Location of the 2008-09 Libyan Premier League teams