Morocco forward Sofiane Boufal faces uncertain future at Libyan club Al-Ittihad

Moroccan winger Sofiane Boufal’s future at Libyan club Al-Ittihad has been thrown into doubt following reports that head coach Faouzi Benzarti has decided to leave him out of his plans for the next stage of the season.

The reported decision by the Tunisian coach has sparked controversy within the club and among its supporters, particularly after Boufal’s unexpected absence from Al-Ittihad’s latest friendly match.

The development comes as the Libyan side prepares for the resumption of the 2026-2027 Premier League season following the international break.

Boufal’s absence raises questions

Al-Ittihad began their preparations on Thursday with a friendly encounter against Military Union in Benghazi.

The team secured a 2-1 victory, but attention quickly shifted to Boufal, who was absent from both the starting line-up and the substitutes’ bench despite several other players featuring in the match.

According to Libyan media reports, the Moroccan international’s absence has raised questions about his relationship with Benzarti.

Reports suggest the coach has decided to exclude the winger from his plans for the coming period, although the reasons behind the alleged decision remain unclear.

It is yet to be established whether the situation is linked to technical considerations or disciplinary issues.

Al-Ittihad maintain strong start to season

The uncertainty surrounding Boufal comes at a time when Al-Ittihad have enjoyed an impressive beginning to their domestic campaign.

The club have won all three of their opening matches, collecting nine points to move to the top of Group A.

Their strong start has placed them firmly among the early contenders for the Libyan Premier League title.

Benzarti is now using the international break to maintain his players’ fitness and match readiness ahead of the competition’s resumption.

Benzarti oversees preparations during international break

The Tunisian coach has taken advantage of the break, during which the Libyan national team is scheduled to face Tunisia twice in the third and fourth rounds of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, to organise a preparatory programme for his squad.

Al-Ittihad’s friendly victory over Military Union formed part of those preparations as the club looks to maintain its momentum.

However, Boufal’s situation remains a major talking point, with no official explanation provided for his absence or the reported decision to remove him from the coach’s plans.

The Moroccan winger’s future at the Libyan club is therefore uncertain as Al-Ittihad prepare for the next phase of the season.