Libya have officially begun preparations to bid for the hosting rights of the Africa Cup of Nations, with the country targeting one of the 2028, 2031 or 2033 editions in an attempt to bring the continental tournament back after missing out on the 2017 finals.
A source within the Libyan Football Federation told WinWin that the country’s football authorities are preparing to submit a letter of intent to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on 17 November.
The source added that the federation intends to deliver its complete hosting application by 8 December, in line with the timetable set by the African governing body.
The move represents a fresh attempt by Libya to stage Africa’s biggest international football competition, with officials hoping that the country’s existing stadium infrastructure and previous experience of hosting the tournament will strengthen its application.
CAF decision opens door for Libya’s return
Libya’s decision to enter the bidding process follows CAF’s announcement that it would reopen applications for the 2028, 2031 and 2033 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The decision came after the continental governing body abandoned its proposal to organise the competition every four years and opted to return to the traditional two-year cycle.
CAF has invited all 54 member associations to express their interest in hosting the tournament. Countries can submit individual applications or join forces with other nations through joint bids.
However, interested federations must provide the necessary government guarantees and organisational documents as part of their applications before the 8 December 2026 deadline.
Libya’s football authorities are now working to meet those requirements as they prepare their formal submission.
Eight stadiums form the basis of Libya’s bid
The Libyan application is expected to place significant emphasis on the country’s sporting infrastructure, which includes eight stadiums described as meeting modern international standards.
Among the main venues are Tripoli International Stadium, which has a capacity of 45,000 spectators, and Benghazi International Stadium, which can accommodate more than 40,000 supporters.
The facilities, together with other stadiums and sports infrastructure across the country, are expected to form an important part of the proposal to host the tournament and accommodate participating teams and delegations.
A source familiar with the federation’s plans acknowledged that securing the hosting rights would require significant work, particularly in obtaining the financial and political support needed to satisfy CAF’s conditions.
“The road to hosting the Africa Cup of Nations is not paved with roses, as we are currently conducting intensive consultations with the relevant authorities in the country to secure financial support and obtain the governmental guarantees required by CAF.”
Despite the challenges, the source expressed confidence in the country’s ability to compete with other potential hosts.
“We are fully confident in our ability to present a strong competitive bid, given that Libya possesses a qualified infrastructure capable of making the continental tournament a success.”
Libya’s long wait to host the tournament again
Libya have previous experience of organising the Africa Cup of Nations, having hosted the 1982 edition in Tripoli and Benghazi.
The tournament featured eight national teams, with the Libyan national side, known as the Knights of the Mediterranean, reaching the final.
However, their hopes of winning the competition on home soil ended in a penalty shootout defeat by Ghana.
The country was also awarded the hosting rights for the 2017 edition, raising hopes of staging the tournament for a second time.
Those plans were eventually abandoned because of exceptional security circumstances, forcing CAF to transfer the competition to Gabon.
Cameroon went on to win the 2017 title after defeating Egypt 2-1 in the final.
Since then, Libya have been unable to fulfil their ambition of welcoming Africa’s leading national teams for the continent’s biggest football competition.
The latest bid therefore represents another opportunity for the country to return to the international stage as a tournament host.
With the letter of intent expected on 17 November and the full application due by 8 December, the Libyan Football Federation is moving quickly to turn its ambition into a formal bid.
