Libya’s national team is looking to bolster its ranks with young talents holding dual nationality, as head coach Aliou Cissé seeks to rebuild the squad ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
According to a source close to winwin, the Senegalese coach is personally leading a new strategy to engage Libyan players active in European leagues, aiming to convince them to represent the Knights of the Mediterranean at senior level.
The initiative comes after previous efforts by the Libyan Football Federation to lure European-based dual nationals largely fell short. Among the most notable missed opportunities were Borussia Dortmund defender Mughira Kaabar and Troyes midfielder Martin Adlan, both of whom have so far declined calls to join the national side.
Frustrated by these setbacks, Cissé plans to travel to Europe in the coming days to meet several promising players face-to-face and persuade them to commit to Libya.
Three dual-nationality prospects in focus
Cissé has already identified three players who have entered his extended squad for the March training camp. They include Malek Ishuayed of Swiss side Servette Geneva, Mohamed Fathi Bawa from the Swedish top division, and Taha Elmansuri, a youth prospect at Birmingham City in England.
The coach has reportedly opened communication channels with all three, hoping direct engagement will encourage them to make the switch to Libya after previous federation-led efforts yielded little progress.
Blending young Europeans with domestic talent
In addition to these new targets, Cissé plans to maintain trust in two other young Europe-based professionals: Newcastle United Under-20 player Mohamed Waddani and Omar El-Harek, recently signed by Scottish League Two side East Fife.
Currently, Libya’s squad has only five overseas-based professionals, including Nantes defender Ali Youssef, Club Africain duo Fahad Al-Mesmari and Osama Al-Shreimi, Étoile du Sahel midfielder Noureddine Al-Ghalib, and Iraqi side Zakho winger Mohamed Soula.
The rest of the squad comprises domestic-based players, whom the national team and supporters rely upon to secure qualification for the next AFCON finals.
Friendly matches ahead of qualifiers
To prepare the squad for competitive action, the Libyan Football Federation has been negotiating friendly matches with Arab, African, and Asian counterparts during the upcoming international break.
These fixtures will serve as a key opportunity for Cissé to integrate dual-nationality recruits and test squad cohesion ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
