# 2008–09 Libyan Premier League

The 2008–09 Libyan Premier League season was the 42nd 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, delayed due to Libya's World Cup qualifiers, and, depending on the Libyan Cup, is scheduled to finish on June 26, 2009. A total of 16 teams contested the league, including 13 who competed in the previous season and three promoted from the Libyan Second Division. (see 2007–08 Libyan Second Division)
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. 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.
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.
Wahda Tripoli were the first club to be relegated following a 4–1 defeat to Ahly Benghazi on May 28, 2009.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. 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.

## Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2007–08 Libyan Second Division
* 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

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Ittihad (C) | 30 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 54 | 15 | +39 | 71 | 2010 CAF Champions League |
| 2 | Ahly Benghazi | 30 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 60 | 24 | +36 | 67 | 2010 CAF Champions League |
| 3 | Ahly Tripoli | 30 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 62 | 24 | +38 | 66 | 2010 CAF Confederation Cup |
| 4 | Akhdar | 30 | 14 | 5 | 11 | 37 | 29 | +8 | 47 | |
| 5 | Nasr | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 38 | 31 | +7 | 46 | |
| 6 | Khaleej Sirte | 30 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 31 | 33 | −2 | 42 | |
| 7 | Tersanah | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 35 | 34 | +1 | 40 | 2010 CAF Confederation Cup |
| 8 | Sweahly | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 40 | |
| 9 | Madina | 30 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 28 | 27 | +1 | 39 | |
| 10 | Shat | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 43 | 57 | −14 | 35 | |
| 11 | Olomby | 30 | 7 | 14 | 9 | 35 | 39 | −4 | 35 | |
| 12 | Hilal | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 25 | 42 | −17 | 31 | |
| 13 | Aman al Aam (R) | 30 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 37 | −15 | 30 | Relegation to Libyan Second Division |
| 14 | Wefaq Sabratha (R) | 30 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 33 | −11 | 29 | Relegation to Libyan Second Division |
| 15 | Jazeera (R) | 30 | 8 | 2 | 20 | 21 | 49 | −28 | 22 | Relegation to Libyan Second Division |
| 16 | Wahda (R) | 30 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 25 | 65 | −40 | 11 | Relegation to Libyan Second Division |
* 1 2 TER 2–1 SWE; SWE 2–1 TER
* ↑ Tersanah qualify for CAF Confederation Cup as cup runners-up, as Ittihad had already secured a CAF Champions League place
* 1 2 OLY 0–1 SHT; SHT 5–2 OLY
* ↑ Jazeera deducted four points

## Results

| Home \ Away | AHLB | AHLT | AKH | AMN | HIL | ITT | JAZ | KHA | MAD | NSR | OLY | SHT | SWE | TER | WAH | WFQ |
| Ahly Benghazi | | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 5–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 1–0 |
| Ahly Tripoli | 2–2 | | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 |
| Akhdar | 2–0 | 1–2 | | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 |
| Aman al Aam | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| Hilal | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–0 | | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 |
| Ittihad | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 6–1 | 2–1 |
| Jazeera | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| Khaleej Sirte | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 4–0 | | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Madina | 3–3 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| Nasr | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | | 0–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–4 |
| Olomby | 0–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 |
| Shat | 3–3 | 1–9 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 5–2 | | 2–3 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 |
| Sweahly | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 1–0 | | 2–1 | 4–2 | 0–0 |
| Tersanah | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| Wahda | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–5 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–2 | | 1–1 |
| Wefaq Sabratha | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | |
* ↑ Match 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.
* ↑ The game ended 0–0, but was later awarded as a 2–0 win to Akhdar, as Ahly Benghazi played a suspended player
* ↑ This 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.
* ↑ Match 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
* ↑ Match 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 Stadium$^1$ | 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 Stadium$^1$ | 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 Stadium$^2$ | Lutfi Jabbara | Al Madar al Jadeed | Adidas | 10th |
| Madina | Tripoli | 11 June Stadium | Mansour Saeed | Libyana | Diadora | 7th |
| Nasr | Benghazi | March 28 Stadium$^1$ | 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 Stadium$^3$ | 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.

## Awards

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

## Season statistics
### Goals

* First match of the season: October 17, 2008 - Akhdar vs. Tersanah, 14:00 EET
* First goal of the season: Stefan de Paul for Wefaq Sabratha against Olomby, 38 minutes and 46 seconds (October 17, 2008)
* 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)
* 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)
* Widest winning margin: 8 goals: Shat 1–9 Ahly Tripoli (June 5, 2009)
* Most goals in a match: 10 goals: Shat 1–9 Ahly Tripoli (June 5, 2009)
* Most goals in one half: 6 goals - Shat 1–9 Ahly Tripoli (June 5, 2009) 0–4 half time, 1–9 final
* Most goals scored by one player in a match: 4 goals - Pierre Koulibaly (Ittihad Tripoli) against Wahda Tripoli, 16' (pen.) 24' 29' 81' (21 May 2009)
* First hat-trick: Atef Hussein for Olomby vs Sweahly (December 17, 2008)
* Fastest hat-trick: Pierre Koulibaly (Ittihad Tripoli) against Wahda (May 21, 2009); 16' (pen.) 24' 29' (13 minutes and 28 seconds)
* 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

### Discipline

* First sending off of the season: Imaad al Khafi for Tersanah against Akhdar - October 17, 2008 (62nd minute)
* 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)
* First match refereed by a foreign referee: Ahly Tripoli vs. Ahly Benghazi (October 17, 2008 - Khalil Rouaissi)
* 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 |
| 1 | Samir al Wahaj | Tersanah | 19 |
| 2 | Ahmed Abdelkafi | Shat | 17 |
| 3 | Nader Kara | Ahly Tripoli | 14 |
| 4 | Sarra Camara | Nasr | 12 |
| 4 | Ibrahim al Khalil | Ahly Benghazi | 12 |
| 6 | Atef Hussain$^1$ | Ittihad | 11 |
| 6 | Ahmed Zuway | Ittihad | 11 |
| 8 | Abdelhameed Zidane | Akhdar | 10 |
| 9 | Ahmed Saad | Ahly Tripoli | 9 |
| 9 | Moataz Ben Amer | Ahly Benghazi | 9 |
| 9 | Younes Baltahaam | Ahly Benghazi | 9 |
| 12 | Wisaam Boukteaf | Akhdar | 8 |
| 12 | Abdelmajid Eddine | Nasr | 8 |
$^1$ 7 goals for Al Olomby

## Stadia

| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
| Ittihad Ahly Tripoli Madina | 11 June Stadium | 60,000 |
| Ahly Benghazi Nasr Hilal | 28 March Stadium Martyrs of February Stadium | 50,000 10,550 |
| Olomby | Zaawia Stadium | 14,000 |
| Akhdar | Al Bayda Stadium | 9,000 |
| Sweahly | 9 July Stadium | 8,000 |
| Aman al Aam Wahda Shat | GMR Stadium | 6,000 |
| Tersana | Ali Alsgozy Stadium | 4,000 |
| Khaleej Sirte | 2 March Stadium | 3,000 |
| Jazeera | Zuwara Stadium | 2,000 |
| Wefaq Sabratha | Sabratha Stadium | 2,000 |