Cissé aims to revive Libyan football with long-term vision
- Omna Taddele
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Libya national team head coach Aliou Cissé stated that he is in the North African nation to lay the foundation for a strong team. The 49-year-old Senegalese coach agreed to take charge of Libya in March 2025.
Cissé told BBC Sport Africa that financial rewards did not influence his decision to coach Libya; rather, the belief the federation had in him played a significant role in his agreeing to a two-year deal.
"I chose to be here in Libya and start this project because from my very first meeting with the board members of the Libyan Football Federation, I felt their willingness and how much they believed in me as a person and as a coach," he said.
The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach acknowledged the abundance of talent in the country:
"This country is full of talent and potential. My job is to put Libyan football in the place it deserves. I am a man of a project, a builder of generations. In Senegal, I had a fruitful 10-year project. I am full of passion and confident that I will repeat the same thing here."
The Mediterranean Knights currently sit third in Group D of the African region's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with eight points. Cissé’s first game in charge ended in a 1-1 draw against Angola at home, followed by a 3-1 loss to Cameroon in his second match.
Cissé noted that the national team needs to improve in several areas if they want to qualify for major tournaments.
"The players possess undeniable technical skills and there's an abundance of raw talent. What is lacking, however, is experience and improved game management. Talent alone isn't enough at the African level — we need more commitment, fighting spirit, confidence, and discipline to reach our goals."
Libya last qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012.
