Aliou Cissé names first Libya squad - Al-Musrati absent, local talent leads charge
Aliou Cissé has wasted no time in getting to work as the new head coach of Libya’s national team, unveiling his first squad just 24 hours after his official appointment.
The Senegalese coach, who led his home nation to a TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022, has opted for a squad largely composed of locally based players as Libya prepares for crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Angola and Cameroon.
One of the biggest talking points from his selection is the absence of Moatasem Al-Musrati, the AS Monaco midfielder who declined a call-up, maintaining his decision to step away from the national team.
Defender Daniel Elfadli is also missing from the list.
Despite these omissions, Cissé has assembled a strong squad featuring several key figures from Libya’s domestic league, with a mix of experienced internationals and fresh faces.
Libya currently sits second in Group D with four points from two matches, trailing Cameroon by just one point.
With a home fixture against Angola on March 20 in Benghazi, followed by a trip to Yaoundé to face Cameroon on March 25, Cissé’s men have a golden opportunity to position themselves as serious contenders for a historic World Cup qualification.
The new Libya boss, known for his tactical discipline and ability to instill a winning mentality, will be expected to solidify the team’s defence and improve its attacking efficiency in these key fixtures.
Cissé’s squad is dominated by locally based players, with only a few playing abroad.
The midfield will be led by the experienced Faisal Al-Badri (Al-Hilal), Badr Hassan (Al-Nasr), and Abdullah Daqo (Al-Ahly Benghazi), while up front, the strike force will rely on the likes of Moayad Al-Lafi (Al-Ahly Tripoli) and Mohamed Soula (Al-Qadisiyah, Kuwait) to deliver goals.
The defensive setup includes Majdi Artiba (Al-Akhdar), Sobhi Al-Mabrouk (Al-Ittihad), and Al-Bahlol Abu Sahmain (Al-Ahly Benghazi), players who have been instrumental in Libya’s recent performances.
Cissé’s ability to adapt quickly to the Libyan football environment and implement his tactical approach in such a short time will be key as the Knights of the Mediterranean aim for a strong showing in these qualifiers.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Murad Al-Wahishi (Al-Ahly Benghazi), Mohamed Ayad (Abu Salim), and Ahmed Ayad (Al-Tahadi).
Defenders Majdi Artiba (Al-Akhdar), Sobhi Al-Mabrouk (Al-Ittihad), Al-Mahdi Al-Kout (Al-Suwaihli), Mohamed Al-Shtiwi (Al-Hilal), Sand Bin Ali (Al-Ittihad), Al-Bahlol Abu Sahmain (Al-Ahly Benghazi), Taher Bin Amer (Al-Ittihad), and Mutassim Sabbou (Olympic Azzawiya SC).
Midfielders: Faisal Al-Badri (Al-Hilal), Badr Hassan (Al-Nasr), Hamza Al-Maqsi (Olympic Azzawiya SC), Abdullah Daqo (Al-Ahly Benghazi), Muhannad Eto'o (Al-Madina), Osama Al-Sharimi (Al-Suwaihli), Omar Al-Khoja (Al-Suwaihli), Ahmed Saad (Al-Hilal), Al-Abbasi (Al-Suwaihli), Fadel Salama (Al-Ahly Benghazi), and Taha Al-Shalawi (Al-Hilal).
Attackers: Moayad Al-Lafi (Al-Ahly Tripoli), Mohamed Soula (Al-Qadisiyah, Kuwait), Fahad Al-Masmari (Club Africain, Tunisia), Azou Al-Mariami (Al-Hilal), Ahmed Karwa (Al-Ahly Tripoli), and Anas Al-Masrati (Al-Taawoun).