Senegalese head coach Aliou Cissé, hero of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, announced on Wednesday his surprise departure as head of the Libyan national team after one year in charge and ten matches managed (3 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses). Appointed in March 2025 to revive the Mediterranean Knights, the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder leaves a project marked by instability, without qualification for the 2026 World Cup and, according to sources, after eight months without salary due to serious financial difficulties within the federation.
A modest record in a turbulent context
In a message posted on Instagram, Cissé expressed pride in the work accomplished and thanked Libyan players, staff, and supporters, without revealing the exact reasons behind his immediate departure. “It was a rewarding experience, but it’s time to turn the page,” he wrote, highlighting efforts to stabilize a team plagued by deep structural issues. His tenure, initially planned for two years, ends with mixed results: three encouraging wins offset by five draws and two defeats, reflecting the challenges of a nation undergoing football reconstruction.
The shadow of unpaid wages looms heavily over this departure. Reports relayed by Foot Africa indicate that the 50-year-old coach endured nearly eight months without pay—a financial scandal exposing the fragility of the Libyan federation, already criticized for recurring dysfunctions. This situation, not uncommon in certain unstable African football systems, likely accelerated Cissé’s decision, despite his continental pedigree after leading Senegal to AFCON glory in Cameroon in 2021.
At a decisive turning point, Libya now finds itself without a coach as key African fixtures approach. The federation must urgently appoint a successor to build on the foundations laid by Cissé—a budding momentum and valuable international experience—and avoid another competitive setback. This departure also fuels speculation: will the Senegalese globetrotter target a new challenge in North Africa or return home? For now, he leaves behind a national team still searching for stability, in a Libyan football landscape weakened by economic and political uncertainty.