Libya coach Aliou Cissé threatens resignation over months of unpaid wages

Barely four months into his role as head coach of the Libyan national team, Aliou Cissé is reportedly considering resignation amidst a growing financial crisis, with claims that he and his assistant have gone unpaid since taking charge.

Appointed in March with a record salary of approximately €76,000 per month—making him the second‑highest‑paid national team coach in Africa—Cissé embraced the assignment with enthusiasm.

He viewed the role as a project rather than a short-term venture, specifically highlighting his focus on a long-term rebuild ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

However, sources close to Libyan football confirm that neither Cissé nor his assistant, Youssouph Dabo, has received any salary since their arrivals. Facing mounting frustration, both have reportedly issued an ultimatum to the Libyan Football Federation: resolve the payment issue by the end of the week or both will step down.

Cissé initially expressed his commitment to Libya’s proposal publicly, stating, “I am a man of projects, not an adventurer. If I had come for the money, I would have left Senegal long ago, after winning the Africa Cup of Nations.” Yet the unpaid wages now cast doubt over that commitment and threaten the stability of the technical team.

His move to Libya was hailed as a major coup for the Mediterranean Knights, who are already fighting through the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Under his leadership, Libya currently tops their qualifying group with seven points from four fixtures—just one behind group leaders Cameroon—and hopes to end a long drought from tournament football, having last qualified for AFCON in 2012.

The crisis echoes past incidents in Libyan football where coaches have exited in similar circumstances. Historical precedent suggests that refusal to resolve the monetary dispute could see Cissé follow in others’ footsteps, leaving a campaign in progress and a federation in disarray.

Libya’s football authorities have since acknowledged the situation but have offered no firm resolution timeline. Their refusal to address the failing payment schedule may undermine the broader ambition of reviving football in a nation that has weathered both political and sporting instability.

Cissé’s legacy remains undiminished: over a decade as Senegal’s manager, he led the team to their first-ever AFCON title in 2022. His departure from Senegal in October 2024 ended a notable tenure, and Libya offered what appeared to be a new chapter. Now, administrative failings threaten to render the project stillborn.

Local media and analysts have widely noted the incongruity of the situation: how a technical staff celebrated for its credentials can be left unpaid while charged with leading a national rebuilding initiative. Calls for transparency and accountability have begun to rise among supporters and former players.

Should Cissé resign, Libya will face yet another upheaval with qualifiers underway and continental tournaments in projection. The decision would be a blow to continuity, likely disrupting preparation and morale, with implications extending beyond the pitch.

With the week’s deadline approaching, all eyes now turn to Libya’s response. The potential resignation of Cissé and Dabo may represent more than just a financial dispute—it could upend Libya’s entire strategic vision for football restoration under international management.