Chelle Leads Four African Coaches Seeking AFCON 2025 Glory
For the first time in Africa Cup of Nations history, all four semi-finalists are guided by African coaches, ensuring that the 2025 edition will once again be won by a homegrown tactician.
This remarkable milestone highlights the growing influence of local managers in shaping the future of African football.
Eric Chelle, at the helm of Nigeria, joins Walid Regragui of Morocco, Hossam Hassan of Egypt, and Pape Thiaw of Senegal in leading their nations into the last four.
Their presence guarantees that AFCON will crown a locally bred coach for the fourth successive tournament, continuing a legacy established by Djamel Belmadi with Algeria in 2019, Aliou Cissé with Senegal in 2021, and Émerse Fae with Côte d’Ivoire in 2023.
Statistics from this year’s competition underline the dominance of African coaches: 15 of the 24 participating teams were led by local managers, 11 advanced beyond the group stage, and African-led sides have accounted for three-quarters of all victories.
Beyond the numbers, their tactical innovation, cultural understanding, and ability to inspire have become decisive factors in the tournament’s outcome.
The semi-finals will see Morocco face Nigeria and Senegal take on Egypt, setting up blockbuster clashes between Africa’s traditional heavyweights.
For Hossam Hassan, the stakes are even higher: victory would place him in the rare company of Mahmoud El-Gohary and Stephen Keshi, the only men to have won AFCON both as players and coaches.
