Libya’s national football team will play two friendly matches in Morocco during the March international window as part of its build-up to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Mediterranean Knights are scheduled to face Niger and Benin between 23 and 31 March, in a programme designed to sharpen competitive edge and improve both technical and physical readiness ahead of the continental campaign.

Fawzi Jaouda, vice-president of the Libyan Football Federation, said the matches would allow the technical staff to assess players’ performances before the start of official qualifying.

He added that head coach Aliou Cissé is keen to lay solid foundations for a competitive Libyan side. The Senegalese coach is expected to arrive in Tripoli soon to attend Libyan Premier League matches and closely monitor the form of local players, as part of his preparations for both the senior national team and the under-23 side.

The two friendlies are seen as an opportunity for the coaching staff to gain greater clarity over the squad ahead of AFCON qualifying, with Cissé aiming to introduce fresh faces while striking a balance between experience and ambition.

Cissé faces a significant challenge, with Libya having failed to reach the Africa Cup of Nations finals since 2012 after seven unsuccessful qualification campaigns.

Libyan supporters are placing high hopes on the former Senegal coach to guide the team back to the continental stage, particularly as his contract is directly linked to qualification for AFCON 2027, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.