The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has confirmed the deaths of several footballers who were swept away by the floods that hit the country last week.
The floods triggered by Storm Daniel caused two dams to burst and submerge parts of the coastal city of Derna.
The death toll from the disaster has risen to more than 7,600, according to the rival governments that control different parts of Libya.
Among the victims were four Derna – -Shaheen Al-Jamil players, Monder Sadaqa, and brothers Saleh and Ayoub Sasi.
Al-Jamil had recently joined Al-Tahaddi, a top-flight club in Benghazi, while Sadaqa played for Darnes, another Premier League side in Derna. The Sasi brothers were part of Darnes’ youth team.
Another player, Ibrahim Al-Qaziri, who had played for several clubs in Libya’s top division and was last at Nusour Martouba in the second tier, also died in the floods.
The LFF expressed its condolences to the families of the players and all those affected by the tragedy, saying, “We belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return.”
The federation also announced it would postpone its meetings scheduled for this week to prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The stadium of Darnes, one of the landmarks of Derna, was severely damaged by the flooding. The stadium had been recently rebuilt after being destroyed during the civil war.
Some clubs in Libya have launched humanitarian initiatives to help the flood victims, such as sending convoys of aid and supplies to the affected area.
BBC Sport Africa has learned that two Libyan clubs, Al-Ahly Benghazi and Al-Hilal, have asked the African football governing body CAF to delay their matches in the continental competitions this weekend.
Al-Ahly is due to face ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast on Sunday in the African Champions League, while Al-Hilal is set to play Rayon Sport of Rwanda on Friday in the African Confederation Cup.
Al Hilal official Ali Al-Sharif told BBC Sport Africa that “the situation is really not suitable for playing football in light of the disaster that befell us.”
This is not an isolated incident, as similar events have occurred in other parts of Africa. In July 2023, heavy rains caused flooding in Nigeria’s Lagos state, leading to thousands of deaths and displacement. In August 2023, flash floods hit Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, killing at least 10 people. These incidents highlight how vulnerable African countries are to natural disasters and how important it is for governments and international organizations to invest in disaster preparedness and response.
Source: BBC Africa
