The Libyan Football Federation has appointed Senegalese coach Youssoupha Dabo as the new head coach of the Libyan national football team, replacing compatriot Aliou Cissé ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.
Dabo, 46, has signed a one-year contract and will lead the Mediterranean Knights as they prepare for the AFCON qualifiers, which are scheduled to begin in September 2026.
He is no stranger to the national team, having served as Cissé’s assistant since joining Libya’s coaching staff in 2025.
The appointment follows Cissé’s departure to become head coach of Angola, leaving the Libyan Football Federation searching for a successor familiar with the team and its ambitions.
Dabo thanked the federation for its confidence, describing the opportunity as the biggest challenge of his coaching career.
Widely recognized for his ability to develop young talent, Dabo guided Senegal’s Under-20 national team to the final of the 2019 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. He has also built an impressive coaching résumé across the continent, managing Senegalese club ASC Jaraaf, DR Congo’s AS Vita Club, and Tanzanian side Azam FC.
Before establishing himself in African football, Dabo gained valuable experience in France, where he began his coaching career with the youth teams of Red Star FC after spending several years as both a player and coach.
His first major objective will be to help Libya qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2012. Libya has been drawn in Group H alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Botswana, making the qualification campaign one of the team’s most important in recent years.
The Libyan Football Federation hopes Dabo’s familiarity with the squad, combined with his experience in African football and player development, will provide continuity following Cissé’s departure while giving the team fresh momentum.
