AFCON 2025 coaches: The tactical minds behind Africa’s finest

• This piece takes a look at the AFCON 2025 coaches – the tactical minds behind Africa’s continental showpiece.
• The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Morocco on Sunday, December 21, with the host nation facing Comoros in the opening match.
• Of the coaches at AFCON 2025, 13 are from Africa, while 11 tacticians come from outside the continent

As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Morocco on Sunday, December 21 with the hosts facing Comoros, all eyes will not just be on the players but also on the men orchestrating the action from the sidelines.

These coaches are tasked with guiding their teams through one of the continent’s most prestigious tournaments, blending strategy, experience and leadership to chase glory.

This edition of AFCON 2025 is historic in many ways, particularly in its coaching lineup.

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For the first time in decades, a majority of the participating teams 13 out of 24 are led by African head coaches.

This shift reflects a growing confidence in local talent and highlights the increasing recognition of homegrown tactical expertise.

The remaining 11 teams are managed by foreign coaches, continuing the tradition of international influence in African football.

AFCON 2025 coaches

African Head Coaches leading their Nations

Morocco will be guided by Walid Regragui, a former national team player who has impressed as a club manager.

Mozambique’s charge is in the hands of Chiquinho Conde, while Nigeria has Éric Sékou Chelle at the helm.

Senegal relies on former striker Pape Thiaw, and Egypt is led by legendary forward Hossam Hassan.

Ghanaian Kwesi Appiah manages Sudan, and Juan Micha oversees Equatorial Guinea.

Thierry Mouyouma coaches Gabon, Emerse Faé leads Ivory Coast and Morena Ramoreboli is in charge of Botswana.

Burkina Faso’s side is directed by Brama Traore, Cameroon by David Pagou, and Zambia by Moses Sichone.

Many of these coaches are ex-players with deep knowledge of local football cultures, giving them an added advantage in understanding player mentality and national pride.

Foreign coaches steering their teams

Algeria has Bosnian Vladimir Petkovic in charge, while Angola is managed by French tactician Patrice Beaumelle. German Gernot Rohr leads Benin, and Italian Stefano Cusin manages Comoros.

French coach Sebastien Desabre oversees DR Congo, while Belgian coaches Tom Saintfiet and Paul Put lead Mali and Uganda, respectively.

Hugo Broos, also Belgian, is at the helm of South Africa, and Argentine Miguel Gamondi manages Tanzania.

Romanian Marian Marinica takes charge of Zimbabwe. These foreign coaches bring international experience and strategic depth, complementing the local talents in the tournament.

The presence of these coaches is symbolic. Many former players, including Regragui, Hassan, Faé, and Thiaw, now guide the next generation, highlighting a cultural resonance that foreign tacticians may struggle to replicate.

Local coaches often understand the nuances of player mentality, national pride, and regional football culture, offering teams an edge beyond tactics alone.

Who are the African Coaches at Afcon 2025?

1. Walid Regragui -Morocco
2. Chiquinho Conde -Mozambique
3. Éric Sékou Chelle -Nigeria
4. Pape Thiaw -Senegal
5. Hossam Hassan -Egypt
6. Kwesi Appiah-Sudan (From Ghana)
7. Thierry Mouyouma- Gabon
8. Emerse Faé -Ivory Coast
9. Morena Ramoreboli -Botswana (From South Africa)
10. Brama Traore -Burkina Faso
11. David Pagou -Cameroon
12. Moses Sichone – Zambia
13. Sami Trabelsi- Tunisia

The 11 Foreign Coaches

1. Algeria: Vladimir Petkovic (Bosnian)
2. Angola: Patrice Beaumelle (French)
3. Benin: Gernot Rohr (German)
4. Comoros: Stefano Cusin (Italian)
5. DR Congo: Sebastien Desabre (French)
6. Mali: Tom Saintfiet (Belgian)
7. South Africa: Hugo Broos (Belgian)
8. Tanzania: Miguel Gamondi (Argentine)
9. Uganda: Paul Put (Belgian)
10. Zimbabwe: Marian Marinica (Romanian)
11. Equatorial Guinea: Juan Micha (Estonia)

Ahead of the AFCON 2025 the following coaches remain as the ones with remarkable achievements in the past editions.Charles Gyamfi of Ghana and Hassan Shehata of Egypt each won three AFCON titles, with Shehata remaining the only coach to claim three consecutive trophies (2006, 2008, 2010).

Hervé Renard is the only coach to have won the tournament with two different nations — Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015. These milestones set benchmarks for current coaches aiming to etch their names in history.