Ahmad Benali stirs controversy ahead of Libya vs Botswana match

Ahmad Benali, the attacking midfielder for the Libya national team and Al-Ittihad Tripoli, has sparked widespread controversy just minutes before the start of the "Knights of the Mediterranean" campaign in the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification 2027, which is set to be held in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda next summer.

According to sources close to the Libya national team and reports circulating on social media, Ahmad Benali has decided to leave the national team's camp in protest over not being given the captain's armband, according to those reports.

Reports suggest that the player demanded to wear the captain's armband to participate against Botswana in the first round of the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification, a request that Senegalese coach Ali Youssif rejected. As a result, the player was excluded from the match squad, with expectations of a report being prepared regarding the incident and submitted to the Libyan Football Federation.

In contrast, the Libyan Football Federation has not issued any official comment regarding Ahmad Benali's absence from the match against Botswana, but his absence from both the starting lineup and the substitutes bench has raised questions about the reasons for his exclusion.

The captain's armband for the Libya national team is usually given to Ali Youssif or Hamdou El Houni, amid ongoing controversy surrounding the player ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification.

Libya's national team plays its first match in the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification today, when they face Botswana in Group E, which also includes Tunisia and Uganda. Each team will play 6 matches on the road to qualification for the finals.

Libya's national team is looking for a different start after disappointing results in 2024 and 2025, which saw them fail to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification 2025, and the Arab Cup in the same year.

Senegalese coach Ali Youssif has taken charge of the Libya national team this year, succeeding his compatriot Aliou Cissé. He hopes to lead the team back into contention for qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Libya's lineup against Botswana has been announced.

Youssef Dayou relied on the starting lineup of Ayman Al-Tihyar, Aziz Al-Suwaihi, Ali Youssif, Sobhi Al-Mabrouk, Mohamed Khalil, Fadel Salama, Mahmoud Al-Shalawi, Bashir Al-Habishi, Osama Al-Shraymi, Hamdou El Houni, and Moataz Al-Marimi.

The substitutes list included Mourad El Wahishi, Mohamed Ayad, Ahmad Shalabi, Ibrahim Bourouiss, Saif Jdour, Moataz Jernazi, Mohannad Aito, Mounir Oukacha, Fahd Al-Masmar, Ahmad Al-Bayzi, Mouad Eissa, and Amjad Al-Ghashim, while Ahmad Benali was absent from the list after being excluded from the match.

Group E includes Libya and Botswana, along with Tunisia and Uganda, who qualified automatically as one of the three host nations for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027, alongside Kenya and Tanzania.