Olisa Ndah in talks to join Libyan Premier League club after Sundowns move collapses

Olisa Ndah is in talks with an unnamed club in Libya as the former Orlando Pirates defender looks set to continue his career in the Libyan Premier League.

The 28-year-old Nigerian international is currently a free agent after leaving Stellenbosch FC at the end of last season. Ndah spent a brief period with the Winelands club following his departure from Orlando Pirates.

His next move had been expected to remain a subject of interest in the Premier Soccer League, with Mamelodi Sundowns understood to have identified the defender as a possible signing ahead of the 2026/27 season.

However, negotiations over a move to the African champions have now fallen through, leaving Ndah considering an opportunity in North Africa.

Sources close to the player have indicated that discussions are under way with a Libyan club over a potential deal. KickOff understands that Ndah’s representatives are engaged in talks as the defender seeks to decide on the next stage of his career.

Sundowns’ interest had been complicated by the club’s foreign-player quota. The permitted places in the squad were already occupied, creating an obstacle to registering Ndah should he have joined the Chloorkop side.

There had nevertheless been a possible route for the transfer to go ahead. Ndah could become eligible to apply for South African citizenship, which would mean he would no longer count as a foreign player for registration purposes.

The defender has lived in South Africa since joining Orlando Pirates in August 2021 and was understood to be approaching the period required to apply for citizenship. If his application were successful, it could have made a move to Mamelodi Sundowns considerably more straightforward by removing the need for the club to use one of its foreign-player places on him.

That possibility had helped keep the prospect of a return to the PSL alive, but the planned move to Sundowns will not now happen. Instead, Ndah could be nearing an agreement to begin a new chapter outside South Africa.

The identity of the Libyan club involved has not been disclosed, and no deal has yet been finalised. Talks remain ongoing, although the negotiations suggest Ndah may soon have a new destination after becoming available on a free transfer.

His potential move would mark the next stage of a career that has included spells with Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC. For now, the Nigerian defender’s immediate future is set to be decided by the continued discussions with the unnamed Libyan Premier League club.