The 2008–09 Libyan Premier League season was the 42nd edition of the competition since its establishment in 1963. Al Ittihad were the defending champions, having won their fourteenth Libyan Premier League title with just one round of matches to spare in the previous season. The campaign began on Friday October 17, 2008, delayed due to Libya's World Cup qualifiers, and, depending on the Libyan Cup, is scheduled to finish on June 26, 2009.Remaining dates for league fixtures LFF, June 13, 2009, Retrieved June 13, 2009 A total of 16 teams contested the league, including 13 who competed in the previous season and three promoted from the Libyan Second Division. (see 2007–08 Libyan Second Division)
The first goal of the season was scored by newly promoted Wefaq Sabratha's Stefan de Paul against 2003-04 champions Al Olomby in the thirty-second minute of the game on the opening day of the season on October 17.Libyan Premier League 2008-09 Statistics Atef Hussein of Al Olomby scored the first hat-trick of the season against Al Sweahly on December 16, netting two in the final six minutes to help his side to a 3–3 draw.See 2008-09 Libyan Premier League#Round 8
The season paused for its usual mid-season break. However, this season's break was extended due to the national team's participation in the 2009 African Championship of Nations, and participation (at club level) in Africa's continental competitions. The season continued on March 13.
Wahda Tripoli were the first club to be relegated following a 4–1 defeat to Ahly Benghazi on May 28, 2009.Wefaq Sabratha's relegation was also confirmed on June 18, 2009 despite defeating Jazeera 4–1, as other results went against them. Jazeera's defeat also meant that they would not be remaining in the division for next season. Aman al Aam were relegated on the final day of the season. Although they defeated Khaleej Sirte 2–0, they needed Hilal Benghazi to lose to Sweahly to stay up on head-to-head record. Hilal secured a 0–0 draw, ensuring their survival by one point.
Ittihad Tripoli won the title on June 19, 2009 after defeating Sweahly 2–1 to gain an unassailable lead over second-placed Ahly Benghazi. This was Ittihad's 5th league title in succession, and their 15th overall.
Promotion and relegation Teams promoted from 2007–08 Libyan Second Division Champions: Al-Hilal SCSC Promoted: Asswehly Al-Amn Al-Aam Play-Offs: Wefaq
Teams relegated to Libyan Second Division 2008–09 Urouba Suqoor Nojom Ajdabiya
League table
Results
Team summary Club City Stadium Manager Sponsor Kit Supplier Position Last Season Al-Ahly SCSC Benghazi March 28 Stadium1 Draghon Kia, Libyana Nike 3rd Al-Ahly Tripoli Tripoli June 11 Stadium Nourredine al Sa'adi Al Madar al Jadeed Nike 2nd Al-Akhdar Bayda Green Document Stadium Omar al Dheeb Al Madar al Jadeed Adidas 4th Al-Amn Al-Aam Tripoli GMR Stadium Abdulraouf Bnour Min Ajlikum Diadora 1st, Group B (Second Division) Al-Hilal SCSC Benghazi 28 March Stadium1 Ahmed al Sanfaaz Al Madar al Jadeed Nike 1st, Group C (Second Division - Champions) Al-Ittihad SCSC Tripoli June 11 Stadium Stefano Cusin Total S.A., Al Madar al Jadeed Puma 1st Al-Jazeera Zuwara Zuwara Zuwara Stadium2 Lutfi Jabbara Al Madar al Jadeed Adidas 10th Al-Madina Tripoli 11 June Stadium Mansour Saeed Libyana Diadora 7th Al-Nasr SCSC Benghazi March 28 Stadium1 Naser al Hdairy Libyana Puma 6th Al-Tarsana Tripoli Ali Alsgozy Stadium Khalid al Marjiny Min Ajlikum Adidas 11th Al-Wehda SC Tripoli GMR Stadium Otkar Barec Min Ajlikum Adidas 12th Aschat Tripoli GMR Stadium Lutfi Sellami Libyana Puma 9th Asswehly Misrata 9th July Stadium Khamees Alabaidy Min Ajlikum Puma 1st, Group A (Second Division) Khaleej Sirte Sirte March 2 Stadium Abdelhafidh Arbeesh Libyana Adidas 5th Olympic Zawia Zawiya Zaawia Stadium Izzedine Khmealah Kia, Libyana Nike 8th Wefaq Sabratha Sabratha StadiumAjaylat Stadium3 Tariq Thabit Al Madar al Jadeed Nike 2nd, Group A (Second Division)Promoted via playoffs
1 As the 28 March Stadium was not re-opened until October 22, 2008, Benghazi clubs played at stadia selected by the Libyan Football Federation. Some fixtures were also re-arranged so that these clubs played away from home for rounds 1 & 2. 2 Due to Al Jazeera's ban from their Zuwara Stadium, the club will play their remaining home games at 9 July Stadium for the remainder of the season. 3 Wefaq Sabratha's used the Ajaylat Stadium from rounds 1-8 as their own Sabratha Stadium was undergoing maintenance.
NB: The newly constructed Benina Stadium will be used to host matches held in Benghazi, as the 28 March Stadium is undergoing maintenance. The 28 March Stadium will not be in use for the rest of this season.Benghazi clubs to use Martyrs of February Stadium for league matches
Awards Best fans : Ittihad Tripoli Best foreign player : Samer Saeed of Ahly Tripoli Best young player : Abdulaziz Belreesh of Ittihad Tripoli Best goalkeeper : Samir Aboud of Ittihad Tripoli Best defender : Younes Al Shibani of Ittihad Tripoli Best midfielder : Mohamed Esnany of Ittihad Tripoli Best striker : Ahmed Zuway of Ittihad Tripoli
Season statistics
Goals First match of the season: October 17, 2008 - Akhdar vs. Tersanah, 14:00 EET First goal of the season: Stefan de Paul for Wefaq Sabratha against Olomby, 38 minutes and 46 seconds (October 17, 2008) Last goal of the season: Adnan Belaid for Ahly Tripoli against Tersanah, 84th minute (June 26, 2009) Fastest goal of the season: 11 seconds - Ismael Bangoura for Al Sweahly against Al Ahly Tripoli (March 25, 2009) First own goal of the season: Jasim al Toumi (Wahda) for Nasr, 90+1 minutes and 32 seconds (April 11, 2009) Goal scored at latest point in a match: 90+6 minutes and 36 seconds - Imad al Traiky for Tersanah against Aman al Aam (December 16, 2008) Widest winning margin: 8 goals: Shat 1–9 Ahly Tripoli (June 5, 2009) Most goals in a match: 10 goals: Shat 1–9 Ahly Tripoli (June 5, 2009) Most goals in one half: 6 goals - Shat 1–9 Ahly Tripoli (June 5, 2009) 0–4 half time, 1–9 final Most goals scored by one player in a match: 4 goals - Pierre Koulibaly (Ittihad Tripoli) against Wahda Tripoli, (21 May 2009) First hat-trick: Atef Hussein for Olomby vs Sweahly (December 17, 2008) Fastest hat-trick: Pierre Koulibaly (Ittihad Tripoli) against Wahda (May 21, 2009); (13 minutes and 28 seconds) Most goals in one half by a single team: 5 goals - Shat vs. Ahly Tripoli (21 May 2009) 0–4 at half time, 1–9 final
Discipline First sending off of the season: Imaad al Khafi for Tersanah against Akhdar - October 17, 2008 (62nd minute)See 2008-09 Libyan Premier League#Round 1 Card given at latest point in a game: Mahmoud Makhlouf (red) at 90+8 minutes and 4 seconds for Ittihad against Jazeera (January 16, 2009) First match referred by a Libyan referee: Akhdar vs. Tersanah (October 17, 2008 - Mohammed Azzallawi) First match refereed by a foreign referee: Ahly Tripoli vs. Ahly Benghazi (October 17, 2008 - Khalil Rouaissi) Most red cards in a single match: 4: Akhdar 1–0 Khaleej Sirte - 2 for Akhdar (Khalifa al Mear & Marei Al Ramly) and 2 for Khaleej (Mohammad Abu Rqiqa & Mohammad Shleeq) (June 13, 2009)
Other Longest injury time of season: 15 minutes, 4 seconds - Ahly Tripoli 0–2 Ittihad Tripoli (June 10, 2009)
Top scorers As of June 26, 2009 RankScorerClubGoals1 Samir al WahajTersanah192 Ahmed AbdelkafiShat173 Nader KaraAhly Tripoli144 Sarra CamaraNasr12 Ibrahim al KhalilAhly Benghazi6 Atef Hussain1Ittihad11 Ahmed ZuwayIttihad8 Abdelhameed ZidaneAkhdar109 Ahmed SaadAhly Tripoli9 Moataz Ben AmerAhly Benghazi Younes BaltahaamAhly Benghazi12 Wisaam BoukteafAkhdar8 Abdelmajid EddineNasr
1 7 goals for Al Olomby
Stadia
Team Stadium Capacity Al-Ahly TripoliAl-Ittihad SCSCAl-Madina 11 June Stadium 60,000 Al-Ahly SCSCAl-Hilal SCSCAl-Nasr SCSC 28 March StadiumMartyrs of February Stadium 50,00010,550 Olympic Zawia Zaawia Stadium 14,000 Al-Akhdar Al Bayda Stadium 9,000 Asswehly 9 July Stadium 8,000 Al-Amn Al-AamAl-Wehda SCAschat GMR Stadium 6,000 Al-Tarsana Ali Alsgozy Stadium 4,000 Khaleej Sirte 2 March Stadium 3,000 Al-Jazeera Zuwara Zuwara Stadium 2,000 Wefaq Sabratha Stadium 2,000
Attendances
The 2008-09 Libyan Premier League clubs sorted by average home league attendance:
# Club Average 1 Al-Ittihad SCSC 12,487 2 Al-Ahly Tripoli 11,832 3 Al-Ahly SCSC 3,842 4 Al-Nasr SCSC 2,716 5 Al-Madina 1,432 6 Al-Akhdar 1,198 7 Khaleej Sirte 987 8 Al-Tarsana 921 9 Asswehly 865 10 Aschat 812 11 Olympic Zawia 754 12 Al-Hilal SCSC 703 13 Al-Amn Al-Aam 482 14 Wefaq 438 15 Al-Jazeera Zuwara 314 16 Al-Wehda SC 276 Average per club 2,504
See also 2007–08 Libyan Premier League 2008–09 Libyan Second Division 2007–08 Libyan Second Division
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