Abdelhakim Al-Shalmani, President of the Libyan Football Federation, resigned following a dispute with Nigeria’s Super Eagles. His resignation, announced during the Federation’s General Assembly, came after the Nigerian team was stranded at a Libyan airport, citing neglect by Libyan authorities. This move signals unrest within Libyan sports leadership.
Abdelhakim Al-Shalmani, President of the Libyan Football Federation, has stepped down from his position, citing dissatisfaction with the current state of Libyan sports. His resignation was announced during the Federation’s General Assembly meeting on Sunday. In a statement to attendees, Al-Shalmani expressed his desire to disassociate himself from what he described as "the failure of Libyan sports" and thanked members of the General Assembly for their support. He added that he held no grievances against anyone in the sports sector.
Al-Shalmani’s departure comes amid ongoing controversy with Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who faced a challenging situation in Libya. The Nigerian team was left stranded for over 16 hours at Al Abraq International Airport ahead of their AFCON 2025 qualifying match, claiming they received no assistance from the Libyan Federation during the ordeal.
The incident drew significant backlash, prompting the Nigerian Football Federation to lodge a formal protest with the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Since the incident, the Super Eagles have returned safely to Nigeria. Al-Shalmani’s resignation appears to be a response to mounting pressure and criticism over the Federation’s handling of the situation.
