Libyan Premier League: Big spenders Al-Ittihad off to winning start, Swehly hold Al Ahli Tripoli

Former Al Ahly forward Kahraba set up Al-Ittihad's match winner on Sunday. Photo Credit: Al-Ittihad SC

The Libyan Premier League began its second round with twelve clubs involved after qualifying from the initial phase. Divided into two groups with six teams each, the first group contains clubs from Benghazi and the eastern half of the country while the other features clubs from Tripoli and the western half.

In the western group, big spending Al-Ittihad got off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory over Olympic Azzaweya. One of the club's marquee signings during the last transfer window, former Wydad AC and Mauritania national team attacker Sidi Bouna Amar, scored the winning goal after receiving a pass from Egyptian forward Kahraba and firing in from the edge of the penalty area.

On Monday, a highly anticipated match between league favorites Al Ahli Tripoli and Swehly SC ended 1-1. Malian forward Fily Traoré, the former TP Mazembe player, volleyed in to open the scoring before former USM Alger forward Ismail Belkacemi equalized just before halftime for Ahli.

In the final match from the western group, Ugandan striker Eric Kambale equalized in the final moments for Al-Ittihad Misurata against Al Madina in a 1-1 draw.

Goals were scarce in the first matchday for the eastern group. Reigning champions Al Nasr edged Al Tahaddi with a 1-0 victory. Experienced Tunisian defender Mohamed Ali Jouini was in the right place to finish after a free kick service snuck through the Al Tahaddi penalty area in the 14th minute.

Last year's leading scorer, Angolan forward Ary Papel, could not find the goal on Saturday as well as both teams in a 0-0 draw between Papel's Al Akhdar and Al Ahly Benghazi. Ahly's rivals, Al Hilal Benghazi, emerged victorious with a 1-0 result over Al Sadaqa courtesy of Mauritanian striker Hemeya Tanjy's opportunistic finish in the 75th minute.

The second round of matches will commence later this week in the championship stage of a league that continues to grow in visibility and star power.