Libyan Football Federation President Abdul Hakim Al-Shalmani has officially resigned, creating significant uncertainty in the country’s football leadership just days ahead of a critical 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Nigeria.

The announcement was made during a General Assembly meeting at the Mahari Hotel in Tripoli, as reported by DzairSport. Al-Shalmani’s resignation follows Libya’s 1-0 defeat to Nigeria in the first leg of the AFCON qualifiers, which intensified scrutiny on his leadership.

Al-Shalmani, widely considered one of the most ineffective leaders in the federation’s history, is believed to have resigned to preempt a vote of no confidence. Several Libyan Premier League clubs had already signaled their unwillingness to participate in the upcoming season until he stepped down. His leadership, which began in December 2018, was marked by widespread criticism from clubs, media, and the public for failing to implement a clear vision or long-term development strategy for Libyan football.

The football community in Libya had been calling for more robust and effective leadership, with Al-Shalmani’s tenure failing to meet these expectations. His resignation mirrors a similar situation in 2018, when his predecessor, the late Jamal Al-Jaafari, was ousted by a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly.

Despite Al-Shalmani’s decision to step down, many observers believe his resignation came too late to redeem his tenure. Libya remains at the bottom of their AFCON qualifying group, and the leadership crisis has cast further doubt on the national team’s readiness for their crucial second-leg match against Nigeria.