TRIPOLI (Libya) - Ahead of the third window of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers, Ahmed Marei has been appointed head coach of the Libyan team.
The Egyptian, who played for his country at the 1984 Olympics, has replaced American Sam Vincent.
Under Vincent, Libya lost all three games at the 2025 AfroBasket and all three games in the first round of Group C of the World Cup African Qualifiers, which were played in Rades, Tunisia, last November.
Prior to Vincent's appointment, Fouad Abou Chacra led Libya to a historic 4–2 record in the 2025 AfroBasket Qualifiers. This achievement saw them return to the African Championship for the first time since hosting the event in 2009.
The 67-year-old coach, who is the father of Egyptian international player Assem Marei, has been tasked with improving Libya's 0–3 record.
Coach Marei has held a number of head coaching positions, including leading Egypt to fifth place at the 2015 FIBA AfroBasket in Tunisia.
In the first round of Group C, Libya lost all three of their games against Cameroon, South Sudan, and Cape Verde by an average margin of 10 points.
The second round of Group C of the 2027 World Cup African Qualifiers resume in Douala, Cameroon, from 2–5 July.
FIBA