Family crisis keeps Mohamed Al Tabbal out of Libya squad ahead of Tunisia clash

Libya's national team has received a surprise blow ahead of their match against Tunisia, scheduled for Friday, November 13, as part of the third round of the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification 2027, after Ali Mohamed, the star of Al Ahly FC, was unable to travel with the "Mediterranean Knights" to Tunisia due to an urgent family circumstance.

The Libyan Football Federation announced today, Wednesday, that the player will miss the squad that arrived in Tunisia to continue their preparations for the upcoming match. In an official statement, it clarified that the player informed the technical and administrative staff that his wife had suffered a sudden health issue, which prevented him from traveling with the national team.

According to sources close to the Libyan national team, Senegalese coach Youssef Dabo has settled on not calling up a new player to compensate for the absence of the player in the first leg, opting instead to rely on the current squad. He will consider the possibility of including another player before the return leg scheduled for next Tuesday in Tripoli.

The Libya national team continues its training in Sfax, Tunisia, in preparation for the match that will be hosted at the Stade Taïeb Mhiri this coming Friday, as part of the third round of the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification.

Libya will not only be without Mohamed Al Tabbal, but they will also miss the services of Ayoub Al Ajhar due to travel restrictions from the United States to Libya.

In contrast, the list of the 'Knights of the Mediterranean' sees the return of several experienced players, most notably Hamdou El Houni and Muaid Ellafi, alongside the inclusion of professional Daniel Al-Fadhli, who has been absent from the national team for four years due to incomplete administrative procedures regarding his participation.

Libya's national team faces pressure to improve their position in Group 8, as they sit at the bottom with just one point from a draw and a loss, while Tunisia has two points after drawing their matches against Uganda and Botswana.