The family of Libya national team and Al-Ittihad striker Mohamed Zubya confirmed this week that the 34-year-old player was kidnapped by “armed elements” and have not been able to contact Zubya since last Thursday. Many different reports have come out since Zubya’s disappearance with some claiming the player has been released but Libyan publication Libya Al-Mostakbal spoke with the family who confirmed the kidnapping, also dispelling pictures circulating on social media of Zubya engaged in prayer as outdated.
Zubya’s club Al-Ittihad have remained silent on the reported kidnapping and the story continues to cause an uproar in Libya where Zubya is a well known figure. The National Human Rights Committee in Libya indicated that Zubya is being held at an “unknown location” and Zubya’s family have not heard any demands from the group responsible for his kidnapping. Zubya is currently recovering from a long-term foot injury which requires the use of crutches for him to move.
The Libya national team player is a five-time champion of the Libyan Premier League during two different spells with Al-Ittihad and has made twenty-five appearances with the national team with six goals scored. Zubya also previously played at Partizan Belgrade and enjoyed a successful spell in Algerian football where he was the leading scorer of the 2015-16 Algeria Ligue 1 Professionnelle season as a member of MC Oran.