Africa: Coach Corentin Martins Wants Libya to End On a High

20 January 2023
Confederation of African Football (Giza)

Libya coach Corentin Martins is out to end on a high at the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Algeria despite the disappointment of being the first team to miss out of qualification to the knock-out phase of the competition.

The Frenchman is eager to finish a disappointing campaign on a good note after suffering two successive defeats to hosts Algeria and Mozambique in Group A.

This means the Mediterranean Knights, who won the tournament in 2014, are unable to progress from the four-team group but will use Saturday's clash with Ethiopia to prove their status.

"For two reasons we want to finish well. First, because we defend Libya and give honor to the flag and the other for sporting reasons," Martins said at the pre-match press conference on Friday.

"So the goal tomorrow is to do our best to win, even if we have no chance to qualify. All was not bad in the previous games. A few things didn't go right in those matches.

"We have nothing to lose, but we must also try to show the Libyan determination. We will do everything to win against Ethiopia.

Martins dismissed speculation that he would rotate his team as they are out of the competition to give the chance to the benchwarmers who did not play in their previous matches.

"I will play my best team to give us the chance of winning the game," the Frenchman said when asked whether he would play those players that did not have the chance in the matches against Algeria and Mozambique.

The trainer answered questions regarding his contract, stating that the team was a work-in-progress and that there are forthcoming competitions after the CHAN.

"I am here till the end of February. This competition will finish in early February and there are AFCON qualifiers matches in March so we will see what happens."

Veteran forward Ali Salama also assured they will quickly dust themselves from what has been an unconvincing display in Algeria.

"The below par performance in this tournament will not have any effect on our team during the AFCON 2023 qualifiers which starts in March," Al-Nasr Benghazi forward Salama who was in the press conference assured.

Libya take on Ethiopia at the 19 May 1956 Stadium on Saturday at 19:00 GMT.

Read the original article on CAF.

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