Libya men's national basketball team


The Libyan national basketball team represents Libya in international basketball matches and is controlled by the Kurat As-Sallah al-Leebiyyah. Libya has been an official affiliate of FIBA since 1961.
They finished 5th at the African Basketball Championship twice. The country hosted the AfroBasket 2009 event where they finished 11th, ahead of heavily favored Morocco and Mozambique.

History

Libya became a member of FIBA in 1961 but has made only sporadic appearances at AfroBasket, participating in 1965, 1970, and 1978, before hosting the tournament in 2009 in Tripoli and Benghazi. As hosts, they finished 11th with a 3–4 record. The tournament that year was played at the African Union Arena and Suliman Ad-Dharrath Arena.
Following the 2009 AfroBasket, Libya endured a prolonged absence from the continental stage until the qualifying cycle for AfroBasket 2025. In a dramatic turn in **February 2024**, they upset Morocco in the Zone 1 Pre-Qualifiers in Monastir, Tunisia—winning on aggregate to advance to the main qualification round.
In the first qualifying window, Libya posted a strong 2–1 record: earning a thrilling overtime win against Nigeria, falling narrowly to Cape Verde, and defeating Uganda.
Their qualifier campaign continued with momentum in the second window, finishing with a 4–2 record—including key wins over Cape Verde and Uganda—thereby securing their first AfroBasket qualification in 16 years. The achievement sparked widespread celebrations across Libya, particularly in Tripoli, where fans welcomed them with singing, fireworks, and national pride.
Central to this renaissance was team captain Mohamed Sadi, who etched his name into AfroBasket lore by recording the first-ever triple-double in tournament qualifying history—24 points, 12 assists, and 10 steals in the opening qualifier against Nigeria.
Libya also enjoyed regional success, capturing a silver medal at the **2023 Arab Nations Championship** in Cairo—their first final appearance in the tournament—after falling to hosts Egypt in the final.

Performance at international competitions

Overall, Libya has competed in many international competitions, including the 2005 Islamic Solidarity Games, and the 2007 Pan Arab Games. The Libyan national team participated in the FIBA Africa Championship games four times, in 1965, 1970, 1978 and 2009, where they placed fifth, fifth, tenth and eleventh respectively.

Summer Olympics

''Yet to qualify''

World championships

''Yet to qualify''

Pan Arab Games

  • 2004:

Mediterranean Games

Never participated
''Beginning with the 2018 event, regular basketball was replaced by 3x3 basketball.''

Islamic Solidarity Games

  • 2005 : 11th
  • 2013 : Did not participate
''Beginning with the 2017 event, regular basketball was replaced by 3x3 basketball.''

Arab Nations Cup

  • 1978-2005 : ?
  • 2007 : Quarterfinals
  • 2008 : First round
  • 2009 : Quarterfinals
  • 2011-2018 : Did not participate
  • 2020 : To be determined

2008 Edition

Libya competed in the Arabian Basketball Cup 2008 in Group B alongside the Tunisia national basketball team, Algeria national basketball team, Iraq national basketball team, and Saudi Arabia national basketball team. In group play, they finished with 2 wins and 2 losses. After their 70–59 victory over Iraq, and a 65–60 win against Saudi Arabia, the Libyan team could enter the second stage of the league because Tunisia defeated Algeria on 30 October 2008. After completing their matches in the competition, the Libyan team's full results were the following:
  • Group B:
  • *Libya 67–83
  • *Libya 39–91
  • *Libya 70–59
  • *Libya 65–60

Current roster

Team for the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket.

Head coach position

Kit

Manufacturer

2009: Nike

Past rosters

At the 2015 Afrobasket qualification:
  • Kevin Nickelberry
  • Osman Bangora
  • Team captain
  • nat field describes country
    of last club
    before the tournament
  • Age field is age on 5 August 2009