The President of the Libyan Football Federation, Abdul Hakim Al-Shalmani, has resigned, plunging the nation’s football leadership into chaos just days before a crucial AFCON 2025 qualifier against Nigeria. His resignation was announced during a General Assembly meeting at the Mahari Hotel in Tripoli on Sunday, according to reports from Sportblog247.

Al-Shalmani, often criticized as the worst president in the federation’s history, stepped down following Libya’s 1-0 defeat to Nigeria in the first leg, which intensified the scrutiny on his already beleaguered leadership. Sources suggest that his resignation was a preemptive move to avoid a vote of no confidence, as numerous clubs threatened to boycott the new season of the Libyan Premier League until he resigned.

Assuming office in December 2018, Al-Shalmani faced significant backlash from clubs, the sports media, and the public for his inability to set clear objectives and develop long-term strategies for the advancement of Libyan football. Observers noted that he failed to meet the expectations of the Libyan sports community, which has long sought stronger leadership.

The General Assembly previously withdrew confidence from his predecessor, the late Jamal Al-Jaafari, in December 2018 by a two-thirds majority, highlighting the power struggles within Libyan football administration.

While Al-Shalmani’s resignation may have been a strategic move to avoid being ousted, many analysts believe it came too late to salvage his reputation. With Libya currently at the bottom of their qualifying group, this resignation only adds to the uncertainty surrounding the national team as they prepare for the decisive second-leg clash against Nigeria.