Abdelhakim Al-Shalmani, the President of the Libyan Football Federation, has officially stepped down from his role following a dispute with the Super Eagles of Nigeria. His resignation was announced during the Federation’s General Assembly meeting on Sunday, as reported by The Libya Observer. if you are reading from Phoenix Browser make sure you click on Read Original on the top, to read the original version of the Article and other related news involved.
In his resignation speech, Al-Shalmani expressed his disappointment with the current state of Libyan sports. “I no longer wish to be associated with the failure of Libyan sports,” he said. He also thanked the members of the General Assembly and emphasized that he harbored no ill will towards anyone in the sports sector.
The controversy that sparked Al-Shalmani’s decision involved the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national football team. The Nigerian team accused the Libyan football authorities of neglect and mistreatment during their recent trip to Libya for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The Super Eagles were reportedly left stranded for over 16 hours at Al Abraq International Airport without any support or communication from the Libyan Federation. This incident happened ahead of their second-leg match in the AFCON qualifiers, leaving the Nigerian team frustrated and dissatisfied. They have since returned to Nigeria.
This incident added pressure on the Libyan Football Federation, with fans and critics questioning the management and organization of the sport in the country. Al-Shalmani’s resignation marks a significant turning point for Libyan football, as the Federation faces scrutiny both locally and internationally.