Saturday, April 20, 2013
Libya set to build 11 stadiums in preparation for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations
In preparation for the 2017 African
Cup of Nations, Libya plans to invest 400 million dinars ($314 million) on building
stadiums this year. Construction of these stadiums will resume in June. The
hope here is that football which is known to unify Africa will serve the same
purpose for this warring country.
Speaking to Reuters, Libyan Deputy
Prime Minister Awad Ibrahim Elbarasi said-"Just like Nelson Mandela
unified South Africa, we hope to unify Libya under this cup,"
Libya had originally been scheduled
to host the 2013 Nations Cup however precarious security saw South Africa, who
had been down for the 2017 event, hosts the event instead.
In order to ensure their readiness
for the event, Constructions of the Stadiums will start promptly in June, according
to Elbarasi- "We will resume construction of these stadiums in June and
have asked the government for a budget of 400 million dinars to build 11
stadiums this year,"
Libya plans to build a new
60,000-seater stadium for the hosting of the 2017 African Nations Cup finals,
Sports Minister Abdussalam Guaila told local media this month.
A second stadium for the
tournament, seating 23,000 spectators, is planned for the coastal city of
Misrata. Matches would also be held in the eastern city of Benghazi, Libya's
second biggest city, the Libya news agency reported.
Still in preparation Libya’s
interior ministry will be taking all necessary measures to ensure safety and
security in the country, still awash with weapons left over from the 2011
uprising that ousted Muammar Gaddafi.
Meanwhile, world football's
governing body FIFA has lifted a ban on Libya hosting matches, the Libyan
Football Federation said.
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