Libya back local coach as a deal for Hany Ramzy falls through

Hany Ramzy has had spells as coach of Egypt's under-20 and under-23 sides as well as the a caretaker role with the senior team

The Libya Football Federation (LFF) has given its backing to Omar Al-Maryami as coach of the national team after a deal for former Egypt international Hany Ramzy fell through.

BBC Sport understands that Ramzy and the LFF were unable to agree on the length of his contract with the federation only prepared to offer a six-month deal.

Ramzy argued it would take longer than that for him to make a real impact with the squad.

The LFF announced last week that the 48-year-old Ramzy would be taking over in charge of the Mediterranean Knights.

Instead Al-Maryami has been given the job as coach and will be in charge of Libya's campaign at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco in January.

Al-Maryami has been appointed after the team at the recently completed east and central African regional championship, the Cecafa Senior Challenge.

As a guest side in Kenya the Libyans were unbeaten with three draws and their only win came over runners-up Zanzibar.

At the CHAN Al-Maryami side are in Group A with Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Rwanda.