Although Libya has been trying to qualify for the FIFA World Cup™ finals since 1970, they only came really close once. That was in the run-up to 1986, when they came to within a game of making it to the finals in Mexico. After ousting Sudan in the first round, the Libyans beat Ghana in the next round before taking on Morocco for a place at the finals. Morocco won the first game 3-0 and went through, even though Libya won the return leg 1-0.
After not entering the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup competition, the Greens came back in the qualifying competition for Korea/Japan. The Libyans managed to advance to the second round at the expense of Mali, who were beaten 4-3 on aggregate.
In the group stage, Libya had their work cut out for them, as they managed only one draw in eight games, but they still gained valuable experience, which they are hoping to put to good use in the qualifying campaign for Germany 06. It also helped put Saadi Gaddafi on the football map and he received a contract with Italian Serie A club Perugia shortly afterwards.
The draw of the African pre-preliminary qualifying round for Germany '06 proved a bit of a mismatch in favour of the Libyans, who were drawn against São Tomé e Príncipe - or number 19 on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World rankings for an African side against number 51.
A 1-0 victory in Sao Tome put the Libyans well on course for a place in the group stage. And, although the return leg took place amidst the shock about a positive drug test of the country's most famous player, Gaddafi. the Greens still ran out 8-0 winners.
                                                                                            

SOURCE: FIFAworldcup.com