Sports

History made as five home-grown coaches lead Africa to World Cup

Published

2 years ago

November 19, 2022

For the first time in the history of Africa’s participation in the World Cup, the continent’s five representatives to the Qatar 2022 World Cup will be managed by home-grown coaches.

Before now, African teams going into any World Cup tournaments relied on foreign coaches who ended up not achieving much with the teams.

But this year’s World Cup which kicks off on Sunday, November 20, will see Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal, Morocco, and Cameroon all parading coaches from their countries which is a great development for the game on the continent.

Ahead of the official kick off of the tournament, africannewswatch takes a look at the five men who will be calling the shots from the dugout.

Otto Addo – Ghana

The Black Stars coach is a former Ghana international midfielder who was a member of Ghana’s team at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Ghanaian coach, Otto Addo (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Born in Germany, 47-year-old Addo was a surprised pick to take over as coach of the national team following their uninspiring performances at the 2021 African Nations Cup where they were knocked out in the group stages, especially a loss to lowly rates Comoros.

The former Borussia Dortmund youth coach inherited a demoralised and a dispirited squad but got down to work immediately.

His efforts paid off as he led the Black Stars to pip the Super Eagles of Nigeria to the World Cup ticket on away goals rule.

He has quietly turned the squad around and has been pivotal in convincing some Ghanaian-born players like Tariq Lamptey and Inaki Williams to switch allegiance and play for the West African country.

Jalel Kadri – Tunisia

Tunisia’s head coach Jalel Kadri’s was given a lesson of what to expect when they faced record five-time world champions Brazil in a warm up match where they were pummeled 5-1.

But the 50-year-old Kadri seemed to take it in his stride and said it was a good preparation for the team as they set to take on France, Denmark and Australia in their group.

Kadri has been in charge of Carthage Eagles since March after being promoted from an assistant role when Mondher Kebaier was sacked following an Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals loss to Burkina Faso.

He has been a coach for more than 20 years, coaching clubs in Tunisia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, and though this is his first national team job, Kadri believes he has what it takes to guide the Tunisian team to great things at the Mundial.

Aliou Cisse – Senegal

Senegal’s head coach Aliou Cisse, is an ex-international who was in the Teranga Lion’s team that reached the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals in South Korea in its very first tournament.

He was also part of the coaching crew at the Russia 2018 World Cup where Senegal was knocked out in an agonising fashion, losing out on a second-round place only because they accumulated more yellow cards than Japan.

Aliou Cisse is going to the World Cup as African champions (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

After losing as a player in the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations final, the 46-year-old Cisse made amends by guiding his country to victory at the 2021 Afcon in Cameroon with a penalty shootout victory over Egypt.

Walid Regragui – Morocco

Moroccan manager, Walid Regragui, has had little time to prepare the Atlas Lions having replaced Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic only in August.

But the French-born former right-back who switched allegiance to Morocco after playing for France at the junior levels, was capped 45 times by the Atlas Lions.

Regragui began his coaching career in 2012 and coached clubs like Wydad Casablanca whom he led to victory over Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League final early this year.

He has also coached in Qatar and has been part of the Moroccan national team as an assistant coach before taking over after Halilhodzic was fired.

Rigobert Song – Cameroon

Cameroon’s coach Rigobert Song, 46, can be described as one of Cameroon’s football legend Cameroon’s played at four World Cups and helped the Indomitable Lions win the Africa Cup of Nations twice in eight tournament appearances.

A rugged centre-back during his playing days, Song had stints with clubs in France, Italy, England, Germany and Turkey.

Though considered a rookie coach, Song was named Cameroon’s coach by his former team mate, Samuel Etoo who is the president of the Cameroonian FA following the sack of Portuguese Toni Conceicao after a third-place finish as 2021 Cup of Nations hosts.

Cameroonian coach Rigobert Song is under pressure to perform (Photo Credit: CFA)

Song masterminded a shock World Cup play-off win by triumphing over Algeria but friendly losses to Uzbekistan and fellow qualifiers South Korea have not lifted hopes of the soccer loving fans back home.

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Sports

FIFA Ranking: Nigeria ends 2024 as fifth best team in Africa

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Nigeria’s men’s football national team, the Super Eagles, ended the year 2024 as the fifth best team in Africa in the latest FIFA world ranking for the month of December.

According to the rankings published by the world football governing body, Nigeria remains unchanged from its previous position, despite having a challenging international break.

The FIFA rankings also reveal that Nigeria suffered a significant decline this year, dropping eight places to end 2024 ranked 44th globally.

The decline follows disappointing performances during the final AFCON qualifiers for 2025, where the Super Eagles struggled against the Benin Republic and Rwanda, resulting in a lack of wins.

However, some of the Super Eagles bitter rivals like South Africa’s Bafana Bafana experienced a resurgence, climbing three positions to finish the year ranked 57th in the world, showing a marked improvement in their recent form and successful matches during the qualifiers.

It was a woeful year for West African rivals Ghana who ended the year in 77th position, which highlights the challenges the Black Stars have encountered in the outgoing year in its bid to maintain its positions among Africa’s elite teams.

Meanwhile, the Moroccan national football team, the Atlas Lion, retained its 14th position in the in the world while still maintaining its number one spot in Africa, holding the first position for the third year in a row.

In the world ranking, Morocco is followed by Senegal on 17th position, Egypt, 33rd, Algeria 37th, Nigeria, 44th, Côte d’Ivoire, 46th, Cameroon, 49th, Mali, 51st, and Tunisia in the 52nd position.

Top 10 African teams in 2024

1. Morocco – (14th)

2. Senegal – (17th)

3. Egypt – (33rd)

4. Algeria – (37th)

5. Nigeria – (44th)

6. Côte d’Ivoire – (46th)

7. Cameroon – (49th)

8. Mali – (51st )

9. Tunisia – (52nd)

10. South Africa – (57th)

Sports

Nigeria’s Lookman, Zambia’s Banda big winners at 2024 CAF Award

Published

5 days ago

December 17, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Nigerian sensation, Ademola Lookman, has wrapped his footballing year with another win after being declared as the Men’s Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Lookman, who plays for Italian club side Atalanta, was the biggest winner at the star-studded 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech following 12 months with Italian side Atalanta and the Nigerian Super Eagles. He follows in the footsteps of compatriot Victor Osimhen, who claimed the award in 2023.

This is the first time Nigeria has had consecutive men’s award winners since nearly thirty years, when Nwankwo Kanu (1996) and Victor Ikpeba (1997) were awarded.

Other top African achievers recognized for their exploits during the event include South Africa’s Ronwen Williams and Zambia’s Barbra Banda. Banda was instrumental in leading Orlando Pride to the NWSL Shield and Championship in the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League season in the United States. She scored the game-winning goal in the final against Washington Spirit.

Other winners include Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie, who won Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for the second year in a row after another impressive season for French side Paris FC.

Sanaâ Mssoudy, a forward for AS FAR and Morocco, received the Women’s Interclub Player of the Year award after winning the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League Best Player title. Agile box-to-box midfielder, Lamine Camara of Senegal and Monaco, won the Men’s Young Player of the Year award for his outstanding performances for both club and country.

Doha El Madani, a 19-year-old Moroccan and AS FAR player, won the Women’s Young Player of the Year award after scoring six goals in five games to win the Golden Boot at the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League.

See the full winners list below:

2024 CAF AWARDS WINNERS

CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta)

CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Barbra Banda (Zambia / Orlando Pride)

CAF GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

CAF GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC)

CAF INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

CAF INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR)

CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Lamine Camara (Senegal / AS Monaco)

CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR)

CAF COACH OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire)

CAF COACH OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe)