By:Madi Senghore
The rise of African coaches in continental football is signaling a significant shift in the sport. Successes such as Walid Regragui leading Morocco to a historic FIFA World Cup 2022 semifinal and Emerse Faé guiding Ivory Coast to victory at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) underline the growing influence of local leadership.
Analysts note that these achievements are built on key strengths, including a deep understanding of local football culture, continuity within national football systems, and patience and trust from football federations. Coaches such as Aliou Cissé of Senegal and Desiree Ellis of South Africa demonstrate that long-term development strategies can yield consistent results.
Recent AFCON champions—Djamel Belmadi (2019), Cissé (2021), Faé (2023), and Pape Thiaw (2025)—illustrate the ability of African coaches to maintain success at the highest level. Historically, legends like Egypt’s Hassan Shehata, who won three consecutive titles from 2006 to 2010, set the benchmark for excellence.
Experts argue that the future of African football depends on the continued development of local coaching talent rather than relying on foreign appointments.