Aliou Cisse becomes Head Coach of Libya National Football Team

The Libyan Football Federation announced on Tuesday the appointment of Aliou Cisse, the celebrated AFCON-winning coach, as the new head coach of the Libyan national football team.

The announcement was made via a statement posted on the federation’s official Facebook page.

Cisse, who led Senegal to victory in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), is widely regarded as one of Africa’s top coaches.

According to the federation, he has signed a contract to lead the Libyan national team until 2027.

“We welcome the best coach in Africa,” the statement read, though no further details were provided regarding the terms or value of Cisse’s new contract.

The 48-year-old coach replaces Nasser Al-Hadhiri, who was appointed in September 2024.

Cisse is set to be officially presented to the media on March 13 in Tripoli, marking the beginning of his tenure with the team.

Libya, which failed to qualify for the upcoming AFCON tournament scheduled to take place in Morocco next winter, is currently second in its World Cup qualifying group.

The team’s next match is against Angola later this month, a crucial fixture as they aim to secure a spot in the global tournament.

The Aliou Cisse career file

Born on March 24, 1976, in Ziguinchor, Senegal, Cisse is a former professional footballer and one of Africa’s most respected coaches.

As a player, Cisse was a defensive midfielder who enjoyed a successful career in Europe, playing for clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Montpellier, and Birmingham City.

He also captained the Senegalese national team during their historic run to the quarter-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, a milestone that remains one of the nation’s greatest football achievements.

After retiring from professional football in 2009, Cisse transitioned into coaching, initially serving as an assistant coach for the Senegalese national team.

In 2015, he was appointed head coach, a role in which he made an immediate impact.

Under his leadership, Senegal became one of Africa’s most consistent and formidable teams, known for their disciplined defense and attacking prowess.

Cisse’s crowning achievement came in 2022 when he guided Senegal to their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.

The team defeated Egypt in a dramatic penalty shootout in the final, cementing Cisse’s legacy as one of the continent’s top coaches.

His success with Senegal also included leading the team to the 2019 AFCON final and securing qualification for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, where they reached the Round of 16 in the latter tournament.

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