Libya plans to invest 400 million dinars ($314 million) on building stadiums this year as it prepares to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, the deputy prime minister said.

It is hoped that football can unify the country after its 2011 war.

"Just like Nelson Mandela unified South Africa, we hope to unify Libya under this cup," Libyan Deputy Prime Minister Awad Ibrahim Elbarasi told Reuters.

Libya had originally been scheduled to host the 2013 Nations Cup.

Precarious security saw South Africa, who had been down for the 2017 event, hosts the event instead.

Libya staged a Caf club match for the first time since Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown as supporters watched hosts Al Nasr go out of the Confederation Cup after a 1-1 draw with FAR Rabat of Morocco.

The security-related ban on Libyan national teams and clubs playing at home was lifted last month after a four-day fact-finding mission by a Caf delegation to the oil-rich north African country.

Al Nasr from eastern city Benghazi were the first to benefit from the decision as they looked to overcome a 1-0 first-leg defeat by 2005 Confederation Cup winners FAR Rabat three weeks ago.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has lifted the ban imposed on Libya to host football tournaments.

The body suspended the North African country from hosting its events in the wake of the 2011 civil war, for safety reasons.

The national team and club sides have been playing their home games abroad notably in Morocco. However, the new decision will allow Al-Nasr Benghazi play host to Moroccan side AS Far in the Confederation Cup next month.

Libya traded years with South Africa to host the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, with Libya taking the 2017 edition.

Several of the favourites in Africa’s qualifiers for the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil struggled on the third matchday of the group stage, now at the half-way point.

Morocco's loss in Tanzania was the biggest surprise, while 2012 African champions Zambia were held to a draw in Lesotho and Senegal and new African kings Nigeria were held at home. As only the ten group winners advance to the final round of qualifying, the dropped points will undoubtedly increase the pressure and the chances of a major shock moving forward.

The Super Eagles were expected to enjoy a bit of a walk in the park at home against their East African opponents, however, it turned out to be anything but as 20-year-old Kahata gave the visitors the lead when he scored direct from a free-kick.

Muhammad Nashnoush’s heroic penalty save earned Libya a precious point in Kinshasa as they preserved their unbeaten record in Group I of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after an unimpressive game at the Stadium of Martyrs.

Having relinquished top spot in the group following Cameroon’s 2-1 victory over Togo earlier, Libya needed a victory to propel them above the Indomitable Lions. Coach Abdulhafeedh Arbeesh opted for a young, energetic line-up, with Ahmed Zuway fulfilling the lone striking role in a 4-5-1 often deployed by the Mediterranean Knights away from home.

With DR Congo boasting established international stars such as Youssouf Mulumbu and Dieumerci Mbokani in their ranks, the smart money would have been on a home win to give Claude Le Roy’s side a real boost in their qualification hopes.

The Amavubi team copped a defensive blunder to suffer a 1-0 defeat to Libya in a pre-World Cup qualifier warm up match held at Amahoro stadium yesterday.

Rwanda looked headed for a home draw against Libya-ranked 63rd in the world and 13th in Africa, after playing some good football compared to past matches that have been held on home soil.

But a late strike from midfielder El Mugrabi Mohammed with a player-less after defensive kingpin Mbuyu Twite had gone out to nurse an injury ensured the higher-ranked side triumphed.

Rayon Sport defender Faustin Usengimana substituted Mbuyu but his presence never made any impact with four minutes of added time to change the scoreline.

Egypt's Ismaily needed two late goals to break down a resilient Terrible CO side, beating the Madagascar club 2-0 in Alexandria in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup round of 32 on Sunday.

The Dervishes scored in a three-minute second-half spell to ensure they would head into the second leg in a fortnight as favourites to reach the last 16 of Africa's secondary club competition.

Midfielder Ahmed Khairy broke the deadlock in the 77th minute with a precise shot from inside the area.

Ghanaian forward John Antwi, 20, doubled the lead with 10 minutes remaining when he skillfully skipped past a challenger, burst into the area and fired home from a tight angle.

Tunisian duo CS Sfaxien and Etoile du Sahel face daunting tests in this weekend’s first leg matches of the 1/16 th round of the 2103 Orange CAF Confederation Cup against West African opponents.
 
Sfaxien and Etoile, who both drew a bye at the prelims get their first feel of the second-tier continental club championship with home games against Gamtel and Onze Createurs of Gambia and Mali respectively.
 
The two clubs, both former winners of the competition find themselves in dicey situations against opponents ranked nowhere near the big guns of continental football.

Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland and Revenue Authority of Uganda had their CAF Champions League giantkilling dreams dashed at the weekend.

While Swallows improved on a previously shocking home record in the leading pan-African club competition to draw 0-0 with Zanaco of Zambia, they lost the preliminary round tie 3-2 on aggregate.

Revenue Authority also failed to score in front of their supporters with a second 0-0 deadlock against Coton Sport of Cameroon leading to a penalty shootout won 4-3 by the visitors.

Swallows, who conceded 12 goals at home in three previous Champions League games, created few chances in Lobomba and Zanaco came closest to ending the stalemate when Davies Mwape rattled the woodwork.

The Libyan Football Federation has appointed Anwar al-Tashani as its first elected president.

The post had always previously been held by a member of the family of the country's ousted leader Moamer Kadhafi.

Al-Tashani, a lawyer who has served with the Attahadi club in the eastern city of Benghazi and on several sports federations, was elected on Sunday in an LFF general assembly vote with more than 100 clubs taking part.

Under the Kadhafi regime ousted in a 2011 revolution, the federation created in 1962 was firmly under the control of the ruling family, especially the leader's sons Saadi and Mohamed.