Abdelhakim Al-Shalmani, the President of the Libyan Football Federation, has stepped down from his position following a routine General Assembly meeting. Al-Shalmani announced his resignation on Sunday, citing his unwillingness to be associated with the ongoing challenges in Libyan sports.
In his statement, he expressed dissatisfaction with the state of sports in Libya, saying, “I do not want to be part of the failure in Libyan sports.” Despite the difficulties, he thanked members of the General Assembly and highlighted his achievements in international and African sports bodies.
This resignation comes in the wake of a growing controversy surrounding the Super Eagles of Nigeria, who were stranded at Libya’s Al Abraq International Airport for over 16 hours ahead of their African Cup of Nations qualifier. Libyan authorities have attributed the delay to logistical and air traffic issues, denying any malicious intent.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles have returned to Kano, Nigeria, following the ordeal, casting uncertainty on the scheduled qualifier match.