Former Senegal’s coach, now in charge of Libya’s team, Aliou Cissé has vowed to end Libya’s 12-year absence from major international tournaments.

Libya last qualified for an international tournament when the country featured at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

Cisse, who guided Senegal to success at the 2021 edition played in Cameroon in 2022 has expressed confidence in his ability to lead the Mediterranean Knights back to the big stage.

He remarked at his official unveiling in Tripoli and highlighted his determination to transform Libya into a competitive force in African football.

He believes his experience can bring success to a Libyan side that has long struggled to qualify for major competitions.

“I am honoured to be here in Libya and excited about this challenge.

“The Libyan national team has talented players, and with the right approach, we can build a team capable of competing at the highest level,” Cissé said.

Libya has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup. Cissé is determined to change that, emphasizing that his appointment is about long-term development rather than short-term results.

Cissé’s tenure begins with two crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Libya, currently second in Group D with seven points—one behind leaders Cameroon—will face Angola on March 20 in Benghazi before traveling to Yaoundé to take on the Indomitable Lions on March 25.

Victory in these matches would put Libya in a strong position to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in its history.

“The support of the Libyan media and fans will be crucial. If we work together, we can achieve something special,” Cissé added.

Libya’s last major international success came in 2014 when they won the African Nations Championship (CHAN), a tournament for home-based players. 

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Should the Super Eagles drop points in their next fixture against Rwanda in Kigali, they will face dreadful problems in the World Cup qualifiers.

A win for Rwanda will see the Group C leaders galloping away as they are privileged to have back-to-back home games.

After hosting Nigeria next Friday, Rwanda will again host Lesotho four days later as they target six points that could take their haul to 13 at the close of matchday 6.

Even the coach of Lesotho, Leslie Notsi is already anticipating this as he admitted that it will be tough to overcome Rwanda when the two sides go head-to-head.

Should Rwanda win that match, they would have achieved a double as they won the reciprocal duel, 1-0 last June.

“Rwanda are leading the group. They have also played very well, winning against the best, against South Africa and Nigeria (in AFCON qualifiers),” Notsi reportedly remarked in a report in Rwanda’s leading newspaper, The New Times.

“So we are expecting another tricky fixture, but we’ve been there before, like you know, to other bigger countries, and we’ve come away with some decent results. So we are just going to go there and do our level best.”

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Chad has unveiled its 25-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with an overwhelming presence from local club AS PS, which contributes 14 players to the national team. 

Coach Tahir Zakaria Gardia has largely relied on domestic-based players, with only two foreign-based players making the list.

Chad, currently bottom of Group I with zero points, faces a tough challenge as they prepare to take on Ghana in Accra on March 21, followed by a match against Comoros in Morocco on March 26.

The squad’s heavy domestic composition highlights the coach’s commitment to developing homegrown talent, despite the nation’s struggles on the international stage.

Unlike most African teams that lean on their European-based stars, Chad’s squad is almost entirely composed of home-based players.

The only two players playing abroad are goalkeeper Mbaynaïssem Jourdain (CSK Dushanbe, Tajikistan) and midfielder Mahamat Thiam Maintah (CO Castuera, Spain).

Their experience will be vital as the team looks to earn its first points in the qualifiers.

Chad enters these matches as underdogs, especially against a star-studded Ghanaian side playing at home in Accra.

The Comoros fixture in Morocco also presents a tough challenge, given the island nation’s recent rise in African football.

Coach Tahir Zakaria Gardia will hope that the chemistry among the many AS PS players in the squad can help Chad mount a competitive challenge.

Despite slim qualification hopes, the matches offer a crucial platform for Chad’s local talents to gain international exposure.

Squad

Goalkeepers:

• Adaossou Mathieu (Renaissance – Chad)
• Abramanne Ekiang (AS PS – Chad)
• Mbaynaïssem Jourdain (CSK Dushanbe – Tajikistan)

Defenders:

• Ahmat Abderamane (Galons FC – Chad)
• Abdoulaye Mahamat (AS PS – Chad)
• Daba Gabkala (AS PS – Chad)
• Noubara Felix (AS PS – Chad)
• Noël Allaramadji (AS PS – Chad)
• Haroun Abakar (AS PS – Chad)
• Djimothoum Moral (TP Elect Sport – Chad)

Midfielders:

• Mahamat Thiam Maintah (CO Castuera – Spain)
• Allarabaye Yves (AS PS – Chad)
• Merba Benjamin (Foullah Edifice – Chad)
• Mahamat Djibrine (AS PS – Chad)
• Djodje A. Yves (AS PS – Chad)
• Djodje J. Lingar (AS PS – Chad)
• Youssouf Abderamane (Gazelle FC – Chad)
• Mahamat Adam (Gazelle FC – Chad)

Forwards:

• Masra Yannick (Galons FC Ndjamena – Chad)
• Mahamat Abakar (AS PS – Chad)
• Ali Mahamat Adam (AS PS – Chad)
• Mahamat Abakar (AS PS – Chad)
• Gouda B. Azaz (AS PS – Chad)
• Abakar Goukoui (TP Elect Sport – Chad)

-CAF

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