Former Senegal coach Aliou Cissé has won his dispute with the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) after FIFA ordered the body to pay him €820,000 in compensation following the termination of his contract.
The ruling represents a significant financial victory for the Senegalese coach, who left his position as Libya’s national team manager in April 2026 after a difficult spell in charge of the Knights of the Mediterranean.
Cissé, who is now coaching Angola’s national team, had taken his case to FIFA after his contract was ended one year before its expiry.
According to reports, the world football governing body has ruled in his favour and instructed the Libyan federation to pay the agreed compensation.
The former Teranga Lions coach had been appointed by Libya with the ambition of helping the country achieve major international success, but his tenure ended without the desired results.
Cissé managed Libya for 10 matches between March 2025 and April 2026, recording three wins, five draws and two defeats.
The results were not enough to guide the team to a historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while Libya also failed to secure a place at the 2025 Arab Cup.
The financial difficulties surrounding his time in Libya were also a major source of frustration.
On 8 April, Cissé announced his departure from the national team, explaining that he did not want to experience similar challenges he had previously faced during his time managing Senegal.
The Senegalese coach and his technical staff had reportedly dealt with delayed payments and unpaid expenses, although many of those issues were eventually resolved.
It was a situation Cissé had already encountered during his successful spell with Senegal, where he led the Teranga Lions to their first Africa Cup of Nations title in 2021 and guided them to consecutive World Cup appearances.
The compensation awarded by FIFA adds another chapter to the career of one of Africa’s most respected coaches.
Cissé, a former Senegal captain and midfielder, has built a reputation as one of the continent’s most experienced football figures.
After leaving Libya, he quickly returned to management, taking charge of Angola’s Palancas Negras in early April.
His victory in the dispute comes as he begins a new challenge with Angola, a team hoping to establish itself among Africa’s leading football nations.
For Libya, the ruling represents another setback as the federation continues efforts to rebuild its national team structure and achieve greater consistency on the international stage.
The case also highlights the increasing importance of contract management and financial stability in African football, where national team coaches have often faced challenges linked to administrative and organisational issues.
