Sports

Meet the African coaches heading to Qatar World Cup

Published

3 years ago

April 1, 2022

The World Cup holding in Qatar in November will throw up an interesting history as there will be four African coaches leading their nations to the Mundial.

This will be a departure from past World Cups where African teams are often tutored by foreign coaches who are seen as superior to local coaches.

But in Qatar 2022, out of the five African countries that will fly the continent’s flag at the world soccer fiesta, four of them will be coached by homegrown gaffes.

Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia will represent the continent but apart from Morocco, the other four will have local coaches in their dugouts.

Cameroon

Not many gave former defender, Rigobert Song, a chance to lead Cameroon to the World Cup, especially after the Indomitable Lions lost 0-1 at home to Algeria in the first leg of the final qualifiers.

But the four times African champions pulled the chestnut out of the fire in the second leg in Blida by defeating their host 2-1.

Song who was only appointed after the AFCON im February, is one of only the third African players to have played in four FIFA World Cups (1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010), along with teammates Samuel Eto’o and Jacques Songo’o.

The 45 year-old led Cameroon to two Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 2000 and 2002 as captain of the squad.

Ghana

Though he was born in Germany to Ghanaian parents, Otto Addo is another local coach who will lead an African team to the Mundial.

The former Bramfelder SV, Hannover 96, Dortmund and Mainz 05 defender was appointed to take over the Black Stars after their disappointing outing at the 2022 AFCON where they were bundled out by debutant Comoros.

Addo set to work, assembling a bunch of hungry players led by Arsenal midfielder, Thomas Partey, and the team displayed such resilience by pipping the Super Eagles of Nigeria over to legs to pick the World Cup ticket.

The 46-year-old has thus become the first Ghanaian footballer to qualify for the World Cup both as a player and as a coach.

Senegal

Senegal coach and former midfield maestro, Aliou Cissé, no longer needs long introductions when it comes to African football.

After being in charge of the talented Senegalese team for over seven years, Cissé led the team to conquer Africa at the last AFCON in Cameroon in February, beating Egypt via penalties in the final.

The continental title was the first for the West African nation after many years of asking, including the pain of losing the 2019 final to a Ryad Mahrez inspired Algeria.

During his player days, Cissé was a midfield lynchpin for French clubs like PSG and Lille. He also played for English clubs Portsmouth and Birmingham in the premiership.

He captained Senegal to a famous 1-0 victory over France at the 1998 World Cup hosted by the European nation.

Tunisia

Tunisian coach, Jalel Kadri, has become the most popular man in his country after successfully leading the North African country to Qatar 2022.

The 50-year-old has a proven track record as his international managerial career has taken him to Saudi Arabia where he coached Ansar Al Madina club.

He also had a stint in Lebanon and was the head coach of Libya’s Al-Ahly Tripoli, before returning home to coach JS Kairouan in the Tunisian league, before he was appointed head coach of the Carthage Eagles.

Kadri is now tasked with leading the Eagles as far as possible at the World Cup in Qatar.

Related Topics:Featured FIFA Senegal World Cup

Click to comment

Sports

Senegal sack coach Aliou Cisse after poor results

Published

21 hours ago

October 2, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Senegalese Football Federation (SFF) has sacked 2022 AFCON-winning coach, Aliou Cisse, following a string of poor results in the ongoing AFCON and World Cup qualifying matches.

The decision to sack the former Birmingham City and Portsmouth midfielder was confirmed by the SFF in a statement on Wednesday, bringing an end to Cisse’s tenure which saw him taking the Teranga Lions to unprecedented heights which included leading the team to its first-ever AFCON title.

“The contract between the national coach, Aliou Cisse, and the Senegalese Football Federation will not be renewed. This is what the new authorities have decided,” the Federation said in the statement.

“Aliou Cisse has given so much to Senegalese football, but the time has come for a new direction,” an SFF official was quoted as saying, highlighting the federation’s determination to start a new chapter for the Teranga Lions.”

The 47-year-old coach has been in charge of the national team since 2015 with his time witnessing a rollercoaster of some sorts, filled with both triumphs and heartbreaking moment for the football crazy West African nation.

After taking charge of Senegal in 2015, following a brief stint as caretaker manager in 2012, Cisse led the Lions to qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and although Senegal was eliminated in the group stage on a controversial fair-play tiebreaker, Cisse’s influence was undeniable.

Despite that setback, Cisse continued to build a strong foundation for Senegal. In 2019, he guided the Teranga Lions to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, their first since 2002, only to be narrowly defeated by Algeria, but redemption came in 2022 when Senegal won their first-ever AFCON title under his guidance, beating Egypt in a dramatic penalty shootout.

However, recent performances have failed to live up to that glory with a string of poor results in the months following the 2022 FIFA World Cup put Cisse under increasing scrutiny.

After careful consideration, the SFF said it has decided not to renew Cisse’s contract, ending his eight-year spell in charge of the national team.

Sports

Congo-born NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo dies from brain cancer

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Congo-born NBA legend, Dikembe Mutombo, has died from brain cancer at the age of 58.

The NBA Hall of Famer and eight-time NBA All-Star, who retired in 2009, lost the battle to a brain tumour he had been battling since he was diagnosed in 2022 on Monday, according to NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver.

The Congolese-American spent 18 years playing in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.

Nicknamed “Mount Mutombo” due to his towering height and defensive prowess, he was regarded as one of the greatest shot-blockers and defensive players of all time.

Outside of basketball, Mutombo
was also known for his humanitarian work.

“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” said Silver.

“On the court he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.

“He loved what the game of basketball could do to make a positive impact on communities, especially in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo and across the continent of Africa,” Silver added

Standing at 7ft 2in (2.18m) tall, Mutombo was discovered while studying at Georgetown University and was selected by the Nuggets with the fourth overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft.

He twice reached the NBA Finals, first for the 76ers in 2001 and then the Nets (now Brooklyn Nets) two years later and led the NBA in blocked shots for five consecutive seasons and blocks per game for a record three consecutive seasons.

Following his retirement both the Hawks and Nuggets retired his number 55 shirt, and in 2015 he was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame.

Mutombo was a global ambassador for the NBA and carried out humanitarian work in his home country.