Al-Nasr Benghazi moved a step closer to reaching the Libyan Premier League final after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over city rivals Al Ahly Benghazi in the fourth round of the championship stage.
The tense Benghazi derby, played at Al-Wadi Al-Kabir Stadium in the city of Al-Bayda, was decided early when Nigerian defender Dennis Nya scored the only goal of the match in the fifth minute.
Nya rose to meet a cross with a powerful header that beat Al-Ahly goalkeeper Murad Al-Wahishi and proved enough to separate the two sides in one of the most important fixtures of the round.
The victory strengthened Al-Nasr’s position at the top of the Eastern Group standings and placed the team within touching distance of the league final.
Under Algerian coach Khair Eddine Madoui, Al-Nasr increased their tally to 10 points and now require only a victory in their next match against Al-Ittihad Al-Askari to secure qualification for the title-deciding match.
The result also had major consequences for Al-Ahly Benghazi, whose hopes of competing for the championship were ended by the defeat.
Al-Ahly remained on six points and dropped to third place in the group standings, leaving the club mathematically out of contention for a place in the final.
The derby victory continued Al-Nasr’s impressive run during the championship phase and highlighted the growing confidence within the squad as the season approaches its decisive stage.
While Al-Nasr celebrated a crucial win, the title race in the Eastern Group remained alive after Al Akhdar SC revived their chances with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Al Afriqi Derna at Tobruk Stadium.
The match produced five goals and several twists as Al-Akhdar fought to stay within reach of the group leaders.
Al-Akhdar took the lead in the 30th minute through defender Mohamed Khalil, who converted a penalty to put his side ahead.
However, Al-Afriqi responded quickly just three minutes later when Ghanaian defender Daniel Amoah scored the equaliser.
The momentum shifted again before half-time when Al-Afriqi goalkeeper Ali Aswil accidentally turned the ball into his own net in the 44th minute, restoring Al-Akhdar’s advantage.
The hosts refused to surrender, and Togolese striker Kokou Klokpo equalised in the 59th minute to set up a tense finish.
But Al-Akhdar eventually secured the victory in the closing stages through Abdul Karim Helmi, whose decisive goal arrived in the 86th minute.
The result moved Al-Akhdar into second place on eight points, two behind leaders Al-Nasr.
Despite the victory, the team’s path to the final remains difficult. Al-Akhdar must defeat Al-Hilal SC by at least two goals in their final match while also hoping Al-Nasr fail to beat Al-Ittihad Al-Askari.
Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad Al-Askari remain without a point after suffering a fourth consecutive defeat during the championship stage.
With one round remaining, the Eastern Group title race remains alive, although Al-Nasr now hold a clear advantage as they seek a place in the Libyan Premier League final.
