Libya is determined to seize every opportunity against its formidable Pool G opponents as the North African squad makes its long-awaited return to the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship after a 43-year hiatus.
Head coach Ghazi Koubaa — appointed through the FIVB’s Volleyball Empowerment Program in 2023 — revealed that Libya’s journey to the sport’s grandest stage began with a simple goal: winning the African Nations Championship.
While the squad fell short of that objective, the Koubaa-led team still made history by qualifying for the World Championship. They finished third in the 2023 African Nations Championship — a remarkable campaign in which they dropped only one match, a tight 3-2 semifinal loss to eventual silver medalist Algeria.
Two years later, the Tunisian tactician has worked tirelessly to align World No.75 Libya’s vision with the goal of gradually ascending to the elite tier of men’s volleyball, alongside top national squads like defending champion Italy, World No. 1 Poland, and South American powerhouse Brazil.
(C) Volleyball World
“We are among the top three teams in East Africa. That’s why we are here. From this moment, we start to dream correctly and aim to become one of the best teams in the world. Why not?” Koubaa told members of the press after Libya fell in a hard-fought four-set battle against World No.11 Canada on Saturday morning at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“We take it step by step to improve our level. I hope we continue with the same spirit,” he went on.
“From this competition, we can develop a new mindset and face new challenges, preparing for upcoming tournaments with good level and strong mentality. The most important thing is to instill in all players that we are a capable team. We can become one of the good teams in the world.”
That vision began to bear fruit as Libya — with only two months of preparation for the World Championship — drew first blood against Canada and pushed the Maple Leafs to extended play in a tense fourth set.
Against top Canadian hitters like Sharone Vernon-Evans, Nicholas Hoag, and Fynn McCarthy, Libya’s Ikhbayri Ahmed Abulubaba Amhimmid and Mohamed Ikhbayri each scored 17 points, showcasing the standard of Libyan men’s volleyball despite the defeat.
“Today, I’m very happy with the way we played. The level was close to Canada’s. Our team did its best to play fairly and strongly, giving maximum effort,” Koubaa shared.
“In the end, the 3-1 score is very important for the players’ psychology as we prepare to face Turkey and Japan. Our pool is very strong, and for our first participation in the World Championship, it is difficult to beat two strong teams like Canada, Japan, and Turkey, all ranked among the top ten in the world. I hope we continue to perform at this level and keep the scores close. We’ll do our best.”
Libya’s brave stand against Canada will undoubtedly boost the squad’s confidence, a vital asset as they brace for tough pool play matches against World No.5 Japan and World No.16 Turkey.
“We will give our best against Turkey and Japan, keeping the score close at all times. If we allow them to pull away, they can take more risks on serve and put us under pressure. We need to stay close in the score and push with our serve as well. This experience will build the players’ mentality and make them stronger,” Koubaa concluded.
#WATCH: Head coach Ghazi Koubaa praises the team’s valiant effort in their first #MWCH match in 43 years against Canada 🇱🇾 🏐
🎥 @ErnestTuazon /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/CCo276FwzO
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) September 13, 2025
