By Amr Shaheen BBC Sport in Cairo

Gaddafi will be hoping for better things from Bany

The Libyan football association have announced that Abu Bakr Bany is the new coach of the Libyan national team.

Bany succeeds Italian Francesco Scoglio, who was sacked by Libya after being involved in a dispute with FA president Al-Saadi Gaddafi - the son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Bany is a former player for Libyan side Al Ittihad, and considered during his career as one of the best defenders in Libyan football.

He will lead the national team for the first time next Wednesday in their friendly against Canada in Tripoli.

"I am grateful to Mr Gaddafi for the trust he put on me and the confidence he expressed by assigning me for the post," Bany stated.

And he added that he was optimistic regarding the team's chances of qualifying for next year's African Nations Cup.

"I believe we can make it to Tunisia," he said.

"We have a lot of talents and we possess the potential."

Bany also outlined his thoughts on his immediate opposition.

"We do not have a lot of information about the Canadians, who play the English way, but it will be a good chance for us to test our players and for me to know our capabilities," Bany clarified.

Additionally, Bany will be supervising a local club, Fenga, while handling his duties with the national team.

Libya will be also involved in another friendly against the South American giants, Argentina, in Tripoli on 30 April.