Libyan Premier League: East group leaders Al Hilal Benghazi score late to claim a point

Al Akhdar SC/Facebook

Al Hilal Benghazi remain the leaders in the East group of the Libyan Premier League Championship stage but they needed a last minute goal in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Al Akhdar.

Ezzedine El Maremi's header in second half stoppage time saved Hilal from defeat. Fellow Libya national team attacker Taha Al-Shalawi whipped in a free kick from the right wing and El Maremi produced a flicked header to snatch a point for The Blue Castle.

Abdulsalem Al Fitouri, a former Libya national team forward who was a member of the Libya team that won the 2014 African Nations Championship, opened the scoring against the club where he started his career at the start of the second half. Ibrahim Hachoud's attempt to clear a hopeful long range shot went right to Al Fitouri, who made no mistake before refusing to celebrate.

Al Hilal are two points ahead of rivals Al Ahly in the East group. Ahly will face defending champions Al Nasr in the only match on Thursday. In the other match from Wednesday, a battle between the two bottom sides in the group saw Al Sadaqa defeat Al Tahaddi 1-0 courtesy of a late goal from former ASC Jaraaf forward Pape Ndiaye.

East Group Table (Benghazi)

	GP	Points
Al Hilal Benghazi	5	12
Al Ahly Benghazi	4	10
Al Akhdar	5	9
Al Nasr	4	8
Al Sadaqa	5	6
Al Tahaddi	5	2

• The group winner qualifies for a playoff with the winner of the West group to determine the league champion. Both group winners qualify for the 2025-26 CAF Champions League.

• The group runners-up qualify for a third place playoff with the runners-up from the West group, where the winner will qualify for the 2025-26 CAF Confederation Cup.