The Emergence of Domestic Coaches Marks a Shift in African Football
As African qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches its finale in the next six weeks, a rising number of local coaches are gaining attention.
Heading into September’s international matches, 24 out of the 53 men’s teams across Africa, according to FIFA rankings, are led by coaches from the continent. This increase reflects a newfound confidence in local talent, as nations increasingly prioritize appointing coaches from within Africa, even when looking beyond their borders.
Malian Eric Chelle, managing Nigeria, and South African Benni McCarthy, overseeing Kenya, are prominent examples in this trend. Additionally, Libya recently hired former Senegalese head coach Aliou Cisse, who joined on a contract rumored to make him the second highest-paid African coach in history. This shift away from reliance on foreign coaches has been positively received within many national federations.
“In Africa, we have a wealth of skilled coaches who deserve these positions,” Chelle remarked to BBC Sport Africa. “I think we have progressed. I’m grateful that certain countries give us an opportunity to showcase our capabilities.”
A Discussion as Old as the Game Itself
Support for African coaches gained traction when Algeria triumphed over Senegal in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, both teams guided by local football legends. Djamel Belmadi and Cisse, both influential midfielders in their playing days, have inspired a positive outlook for domestic coaching.
Since those championships, both subsequent AFCON tournaments have also been won by coaches who are native to the continent. The trend has seen a decline in European coaches participating in these competitions. In the 2022 World Cup, Walid Regragui’s successful leadership of Morocco to the semi-finals marked a significant achievement for African coaching.
However, the most significant highlight for African football in that tournament was that all five representatives were led by local coaches, each securing at least one victory.
An Ongoing Challenge: Navigating Expectations and Professionalism
The conversation about the effectiveness of African versus foreign coaches has lingered for decades. Cisse acknowledges that better investment in coaching programs by both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA has contributed to improved standards in local coaching.
“African coaches are evolving consistently,” he stated. “The nature of football is global now; factors like race or nationality are secondary. Competence and quality are what matter today.”
Former Mali coach Mohamed Magassouba highlighted the past feelings of inadequacy many indigenous coaches faced. Nevertheless, there seems to be a transformation in mindset within federations.
McCarthy, who assumed the role in Kenya earlier this year, recognizes this shift: “Our commitment to the game was often overlooked when it came to leadership,” he said. “Now, there’s a growing belief in our potential on our own continent, rather than a continual dependence on European coaches.”
Having African coaches at the helm creates distinct advantages, such as increased drive, a deeper emotional connection, and an understanding of the cultures and expectations of local players. “We need to appreciate how African players think,” Chelle stated. “Placing a Nigerian player in Vietnam would be challenging, similarly to in Europe.”
Achievements Amidst Challenges
While having African coaches suggests advantages, including cost-effectiveness, history reveals that European counterparts have often demonstrated less commitment to long-term goals.
“The European coaches often come to Africa primarily for financial gain,” stated Stephen Keshi back in 2013 when he led Nigeria to AFCON victory, asserting they offered nothing beyond what local coaches could provide.
Chelle warns, however, that local coaches must not shy away from improving their readiness and player performance. “We need to enhance game preparation and employ a more professional approach,” he emphasized.
Current Landscape of African Coaches
African coaches leading their national teams (18)
- Brama Traore (Burkina Faso)
- Bubista (Cape Verde)
- Eloge Enza-Yamissi (Central African Republic interim)
- Hossam Hassan (Egypt)
- Juan Micha (Equatorial Guinea)
- Thierry Mouyouma (Gabon)
- Otto Addo (Ghana)
- Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast)
- Thomas Kojo (Liberia)
- Walid Regragui (Morocco)
- Chiquinho Conde (Mozambique)
- Collin Benjamin (Namibia)
- Pape Thiaw (Senegal)
- Ralph Jean-Louis (Seychelles)
- Mohamed Kallon (Sierra Leone)
- Yusuf Ali Nur (Somalia)
- Dare Nibombe (Togo)
- Sami Trabelsi (Tunisia)
African coaches managing other countries on the continent (six)
- Bennie McCarthy (Kenya – South Africa)
- Aliou Cisse (Libya – Senegal)
- Callisto Pasuwa (Malawi – Zimbabwe)
- Ezzaki Badou (Niger – Morocco)
- Eric Chelle (Nigeria – Mali)
- Kwesi Appiah (Sudan – Ghana)
With four matchdays left in the World Cup qualifiers, the landscape remains fluid. The outcomes could significantly influence the opportunities available to African coaches moving forward, setting the stage for either their prominence or a regression to being overlooked.
