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Libyans Celebrate First Football Victory Under New Flag

Libyans in Martyr's Square in Tripoli watch their national football team compete under the country's new flag, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011.

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Last updated on: September 02, 2011 8:00 PM

Hundreds of joyful Libyans gathered in the capital, Tripoli, late Saturday to celebrate the national football team's first victory since anti-Gadhafi forces toppled the long-time Libyan leader and forced him into hiding.

People cheered and fired off celebratory gunshots in Tripoli's central Martyrs Square which, until recently, the Libyan government had used for mass demonstrations in support of the former leader, Moammar Gadhafi.

The Libyan team, playing under a new flag and singing a new national anthem, won its 2012 African Nations Cup qualifying match in Cairo against Mozambique 1-0, taking Libya to the top of Group C. Rabi al-Lafi scored the only goal of the match.

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Boston Bomber Spent 6 Months in Russia’s Most Violent Republic

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