Breakthrough comes ahead of international break preparations
A partial resolution has been reached in the long-running salary dispute involving Libya national team coach Aliou Cissé, after the country’s football authorities settled a significant portion of his outstanding wages.
The development comes just days before the international break in March, during which Libya are scheduled to hold a training camp in Morocco and play two friendly matches. The financial issues, which had overshadowed preparations, had raised concerns about stability within the national team setup.
Months of unpaid wages
Cissé, who took charge of Libya in March 2025 under a contract running until 2027, had gone eight months without receiving his salary. The situation emerged despite earlier financial support provided to the Libyan Football Federation by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, which had covered wages for an initial six-month period.
However, after that support ended, the federation struggled to maintain payments due to a lack of further funding. The issue was particularly significant given the scale of Cissé’s salary, reported to be around $80,000 per month—one of the highest at the local level.
Partial payment signals progress
According to a source, the coach has now received five months’ worth of his delayed wages, leaving three months still outstanding. While not a complete resolution, the payment represents a meaningful step towards addressing the crisis that had affected both the technical staff and the broader football environment in Libya.
The breakthrough is expected to ease tensions ahead of the team’s upcoming commitments and allow the coaching staff to focus on preparations rather than administrative concerns.
Focus shifts to Morocco camp
With part of the financial dispute resolved, attention is now turning to Libya’s training camp in Morocco. During the international break, the team will face Niger and Liberia in friendly matches designed to assess player readiness.
For Cissé, the fixtures provide an opportunity to evaluate both the technical and physical condition of his squad. The matches are also part of broader preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which are set to be hosted across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Long road back to continental competition
Libya faces a significant challenge in returning to Africa’s top football competition. The national team has failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for seven consecutive editions, with their last appearance dating back to 2012, when the tournament was held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
This prolonged absence has added pressure on the current coaching staff to deliver results and restore the team’s standing on the continental stage.
Stability key to future ambitions
The partial payment of Cissé’s outstanding wages offers a measure of stability at a crucial time for Libyan football. While financial issues have not been fully resolved, the progress made could help create a more focused environment as the team prepares for upcoming fixtures.
As Libya looks ahead to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the ability to maintain organisational stability may prove as important as performances on the pitch.
