Uncertainty has resurfaced over the future of Aliou Cisse as head coach of Libya’s national team, after the country’s football federation chief publicly questioned whether his tenure can be sustained amid ongoing financial constraints.
Abdelmoula Al-Maghribi, president of the Libyan Football Federation, has reignited debate around the Senegalese coach’s position despite recent progress in settling outstanding salary payments owed to him and his staff.
Cisse, who assumed his role in March 2025, has reportedly received payment for 11 months of wages, leaving just one month outstanding. The development marks a significant improvement following a prolonged period during which the technical team went unpaid.
However, Al-Maghribi made clear that financial instability continues to pose a serious threat to the long-term continuity of the coaching setup.
“Last year, the Football Federation received financial support from state officials to cover the salaries of the technical staff, which leads the Libyan national team under the leadership of Senegalese Aliou Cisse for a period of 6 months.”
He continued: “The Football Association then delayed paying the salaries of the coach of the Libyan national team and the rest of his assistant coaching staff for 8 months due to the lack of financial support. So we paid 7 months’ worth of Cisse’s dues from the Football Association’s treasury, which came to us as support from FIFA, and we still owe the coach one month’s salary.”
The Libyan FA’s chief added that without sustained backing from state authorities, maintaining the current coaching structure may not be feasible, despite the contract with Cisse running until 2027.
“In the absence of full financial support from the Libyan state, the continuation of coach Aliou Cisse at the head of the national team’s technical staff is linked to full financial commitment to the terms of the contract, and we alone are unable to commit to paying the salaries of the coach and his assistants, noting that the contract is valid until 2027.”
Cisse, 49, is understood to earn a monthly salary of $80,000, a figure considered high by local football standards and one that has further intensified scrutiny during the federation’s financial difficulties.
The situation leaves Libya’s national team, known as the Mediterranean Knights, facing uncertainty at a critical stage of its development. Under Cisse’s leadership, the squad recently completed a training camp in Morocco, where they played two friendly matches, drawing 0-0 against Niger and 2-2 with Liberia.
Despite those results, the team continues to grapple with the aftermath of a difficult period marked by inconsistent performances and missed opportunities. One of the key objectives for Cisse and his players will be to restore Libya’s presence on the continental stage by securing qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, after failing to reach the last seven editions of the tournament.
Financial strain clouds long-term planning
While the clearing of most salary arrears represents a step forward, the federation’s warning highlights deeper structural challenges. Without consistent financial backing, Libya’s ambitions on the pitch risk being undermined by instability off it, placing Cisse’s future—and the team’s progress—in doubt.
