- Associated Press - Thursday, April 18, 2013

ZURICH (AP) - Libya has been declared safe to host World Cup qualifying matches, the first national team games on home ground since the uprising that ousted Moammar Gadhafi.

FIFA says it “decided to reauthorize matches in Libya” after the Confederation of African Football recommended approval.

Libya will host Congo in Tripoli on June 7 and Togo in Benina, near Benghazi, on June 14.

A previous home qualifier, against Cameroon last June, was played in Sfax, Tunisia. Libya won 2-1. Libya trails group leader Cameroon by one point midway through a six-match program for each team.

Group winners in African qualifying advance to a final playoff round in October and November. Five African teams will play in Brazil next year.

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