Libya has officially entered the race to host a future edition of the Africa Cup of Nations after submitting its interest to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Libyan Football Federation has sent a formal letter to CAF declaring its intention to stage one of the next three editions of Africa’s premier international football competition — the 2028, 2032 or 2036 tournaments.
The move represents the first official step in Libya’s attempt to bring the continent’s biggest football event back to the country, with officials now preparing the detailed proposal required by CAF.
Libyan Football Federation president Abdelmoula Al-Maghribi confirmed that the submission had been made and said the federation would begin work on a comprehensive hosting dossier.
The document will need to demonstrate Libya’s ability to meet CAF’s requirements in several key areas, including stadium facilities, training grounds, transportation systems, accommodation arrangements and wider tournament logistics.
The country’s decision to pursue AFCON hosting follows what officials described as a successful staging of the UNAF U-20 Championship in Benghazi earlier this year.
Al-Maghribi said the tournament showed that Libya has the capacity to organise major football events and highlighted improvements in the country’s sporting infrastructure, as well as government backing for international competitions.
The Libyan federation believes the experience gained from hosting the youth competition provides evidence that the country can handle the demands of a major continental tournament.
According to sources within CAF cited by Libyan newspaper Alwasat, competition for the hosting rights is expected to be strong.
Around 17 national football associations have reportedly shown interest in organising one of the next three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, creating what is expected to be a competitive bidding process.
While some countries are considering partnerships through joint bids, Libya intends to submit an independent proposal as it attempts to secure hosting rights on its own.
A central part of the Libyan bid will focus on upgrading and modernising important football venues.
Among the facilities expected to play a key role are Tripoli International Stadium and Benghazi International Stadium, with further sports infrastructure projects also being developed across the country.
Libya hopes these improvements will strengthen its case as CAF assesses potential hosts for future editions of the tournament.
If successful, the bid would see Libya host the Africa Cup of Nations for only the second time in its history.
The country previously staged the competition in 1982, meaning a successful campaign would mark a return of the tournament after more than four decades.
Beyond hosting the AFCON, the proposal reflects Libya’s wider ambition to rebuild its profile within African football and demonstrate its ability to welcome major sporting events.
The country’s football authorities now face the task of preparing a strong technical submission as they compete against other interested nations for the opportunity to organise one of the next three editions of the continental championship.
A successful bid would represent a significant moment for Libyan sport and provide the country with the chance to showcase its facilities, infrastructure development and football ambitions on a continental stage.
