Abdelhakim Al-Shalmani, the President of the Libyan Football Federation, has resigned from his position.
His resignation was announced during a General Assembly meeting of the Federation on Sunday.
“I do not want to be part of the failure in Libyan sports,” Al-Shalmani stated, expressing his deep concern for the state of football in Libya.
In his speech, he expressed gratitude to his colleagues and extended forgiveness to everyone involved in the sports sector.
“I thank all members of the General Assembly, and I forgive everyone from all segments of the sports sector,” he added.
Al-Shalmani’s resignation comes at a particularly sensitive time.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria recently accused the Libyan football authorities of “inhumane treatment” upon their arrival in the country.
The Nigerian team was set to play in a crucial match for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
However, things took a turn for the worse when the players found themselves stranded at Al Abraq International Airport for over 16 hours.
Reports indicate that the players received no assistance from the Libyan Football Federation during this distressing time.
The team’s experience has sparked outrage among fans and officials alike.
As the Super Eagles head back to Nigeria, many are questioning the state of football administration in Libya.
In response to the incident, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has vowed to investigate the matter thoroughly.
CAF has stated that they are in contact with both Libyan and Nigerian authorities regarding the situation.
“We have been informed that the Nigerian National Football Team (Super Eagles) and their technical team were stranded in disturbing conditions,” CAF said in an official statement.
The organization has referred the matter to its Disciplinary Board for further investigation.
“Appropriate action will be taken against those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations,” the statement continued.
