Aliou Cissé has won his case against the Libyan Football Federation (FLF). After months of waiting, FIFA has delivered a favorable decision for the former Senegal national team coach, bringing an end to a saga marked by unpaid wages and financial troubles. This decision is a significant victory for the Senegalese coach, who had repeatedly called out the failure of Libyan football officials to honor their contractual commitments to him.
According to available information, FIFA has ordered the Libyan Federation to pay Aliou Cissé compensation estimated at 820,000 euros, roughly 538 million CFA francs. This amount includes unpaid salaries as well as compensation outlined in the contractual provisions. By ruling in favor of the Senegalese coach, the global governing body of football once again emphasizes the importance of honoring contracts between coaches and national federations.
Aliou Cissé was appointed coach of Libya in March 2025. His arrival was meant to kick off a new sports project aimed at reviving the Libyan national team on the continental stage. The signed contract was for two years, with an additional year as an option. The former captain of the Lions of Teranga was set to earn a monthly salary of 80,000 US dollars, about 50 million CFA francs, a figure that reflected the trust placed in him to lead this new mission.
However, the project never really got off the ground under normal conditions. Very quickly, the financial difficulties of the Libyan Federation began to weigh on the team’s operations. For eight consecutive months, Aliou Cissé received no salary, despite the contractual commitments made at the time of his appointment. This situation gradually strained the collaboration between the two parties and made continuing the adventure nearly impossible.
In light of the many questions, the president of the Libyan Federation, Abdulmola Al-Maghribi, acknowledged the challenges faced by his institution. He explained that the financial crisis affecting the FLF and the lack of available resources prevented the payment of salaries for the coach and his staff. Despite these explanations, no sustainable solution was found to rectify the situation in a reasonable timeframe.
As the months went by, the salary arrears piled up. The debt owed to Aliou Cissé reportedly reached about 361 million CFA francs, a significant amount that highlights the severity of the issue. Faced with this deadlock and the absence of guarantees for a quick resolution, the Senegalese coach ultimately decided to end his adventure with the Libyan national team in April 2026.
Aliou Cissé 🇸🇳 has won his case against Libya 🇱🇾 !
FIFA ruled in favor of the former Senegal coach and ordered the Libyan Federation to pay him 820,000 €. (538 million CFA) @MickyJnr__ pic.twitter.com/J7Ot9hkmFQ
— 13football_com (@13footballC) July 14, 2026
After his departure, Aliou Cissé quickly bounced back. A few months later, he signed with the Angolan national team, the Palancas Negras, where he began a new chapter in his career. This new experience offers him the chance to find a more stable environment to continue his work on the African continent after several successful years leading Senegal.
The decision made by FIFA is thus an important victory for Aliou Cissé, but also a reminder to all national federations about their contractual obligations. By condemning the Libyan Federation to compensate its former coach, the global body asserts that financial difficulties cannot justify the failure to honor signed commitments. For Aliou Cissé, this verdict definitively closes a complicated chapter and allows him to fully focus on his new challenges with the Angolan national team.
