By trusting their own, African nations aren’t just saving money or boosting pride—they’re building a sustainable ecosystem where knowledge circulates within the continent.
By Tuka Letura
For decades, African nations relied on European coaches or local insiders. Now, they are breaking tradition—and placing their trust in expertise from across their own borders. This week, Cameroonian football icon, Rigobert Song, made history by accepting the role of head coach for the Central African Republic.
It is the latest ripple in a quiet revolution sweeping African football: Nigeria appointed Ivorian-born former Mali international, Eric Chelle, to lead their squad. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the continent, Ghana’s James Kwesi Appiah—the longest-serving of the trio—has managed Sudan’s national team since 2023. Now, with Rigobert Song—Cameroon’s former captain and coach—joining the movement, the trend is undeniable.
African coaches are no longer confined to their homelands; they are crossing national borders and expanding their managerial expertise across the continent.

So why the shift? What has changed? Is it cost, pride, or a long-overdue recognition of homegrown coaching talent? As African coaches pass the whistle across borders, it raises the question: Is the continent’s football coming of age—and could this solidarity be its secret weapon?
One of the main reasons African football federations traditionally hired foreign coaches was the belief that they were more qualified and experienced.
However, the notion that foreign automatically means better raises a critical question: if these coaches were truly the best, why do they struggle to secure similar roles in their own continents?
In Europe and South America, where elite football thrives, many of these same coaches would not be considered for top managerial positions with national teams. They are neither at the pinnacle of their profession nor among the most sought-after managerial talents in their home regions.
Instead, their experience—while valuable—positions them as viable options for African nations, even though they are clearly not elite candidates in global football. This reality exposes a contradiction: while they are presented as the ideal choice for African teams, they often wouldn’t make the cut in their own regions.
Yet, their previous stints in European leagues or lower-tier international roles give them an aura of credibility that overshadows local coaches, who are often overlooked despite possessing deep knowledge of their teams and environments.
The last two Africa Cup of Nations winners, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, were led to continental glory by African coaches. While these cases involve African coaches managing their own nations, their impact as coaches during their time is undeniable. Emerse Faé, who took over mid-tournament from Frenchman Jean-Louis Gasset, epitomised this.
Gasset had struggled in the group stages of the 2023 AFCON, nearly costing Côte d’Ivoire a spot in the knockout rounds before being dismissed. Faé stepped in and transformed the team, leading them through a remarkable turnaround that culminated in a dramatic final victory over Nigeria.
Similarly, Aliou Cissé demonstrated how a homegrown coach can elevate a national team with the right structure and backing. A former Senegalese international, Cissé built one of Senegal’s best squads by bringing in players from across the world and forming a side that convinced those eligible to play for other European national teams to return to the Senegalese fold.
His efforts paid off with Senegal’s first-ever AFCON triumph in 2021, followed by an impressive World Cup campaign later that year. His success showed that familiarity with a country’s footballing DNA can be an asset rather than a limitation.
Another striking example is Walid Regragui, who took over Morocco months before the 2022 World Cup and led them to an unprecedented semi-final finish—the best-ever performance by an African team at the tournament. Although Morocco has not stamped its authority on the continent as strongly as it did at the World Cup, they have certainly not been pushovers.

Yet, even as cross-border African coaching appointments gain momentum, Nigeria’s recent choices have bucked the trend. In 2023, the Nigerian Football Federation sparked fierce debate by appointing Portuguese manager José Peseiro over interim Nigerian coach Augustine Eguavoen—a decision critics called a step backward.
While Peseiro silenced some skeptics by steering the Super Eagles to the 2024 AFCON final, it did not come without significant friction.
Now, with the tide shifting, Nigeria finds itself at a crossroads. As Eric Chelle—an Ivorian-born tactician with Malian roots—takes charge of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers, all eyes are on him to deliver. His mission? To revive Africa’s most populous football nation after its shock failure to reach the 2022 tournament.

For Chelle, the pressure is immense: success could cement Africa’s faith in its own coaches, while failure might fuel nostalgia for the “safe” foreign gamble. Either way, his journey is set out for him.
The same goes for the man of the moment, Rigobert Song. The Central African Republic has never qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations and missed out on this year’s edition as well. However, for Song, the focus now shifts to keeping their World Cup hopes alive, as they remain in contention for a spot at the 2026 tournament.
The Central African Republic are fifth in the standings after four matchdays, having collected just four points. Their only win came against Chad in a narrow 1-0 victory, alongside one draw and two losses.
However, their World Cup hopes remain alive, as the team that tops the group qualifies automatically, while the second-placed side gets a chance through the playoffs. With the qualification race still open, the Central African side will need a strong push in the remaining fixtures to stay in contention.
Ghana’s James Kwesi Appiah, the third figure in this wave of cross-border coaching, has quietly orchestrated a remarkable transformation with Sudan’s national team. Under his leadership, Sudan not only secured qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations but also sits atop their 2026 World Cup qualification group after four matches.

With three wins and one draw, Sudan remains unbeaten. His success is a shining example of how African coaches, when given the opportunity, can elevate even the most underdog sides to new heights—whether or not they are originally from the nation.
At the end of the day, Africa’s coaching revolution isn’t just a trend; it’s a correction. For too long, the continent exported talent (players) and imported ideas (coaches). Now, it’s reclaiming both. By trusting their own, African nations aren’t just saving money or boosting pride.
They’re building a sustainable ecosystem where knowledge circulates within the continent, nurturing tomorrow’s stars and strategists. The real victory? A day when an African coach lifting the World Cup isn’t a “miracle”, it’s expected.
Tuka Letura is an experienced sports writer with over five years of experience in the craft. He uses data and statistics to provide analysis and commentary. From regional to worldwide competitions, he has covered a wide range of sports-related events and topics. He is devoted to sharing his enthusiasm for sports with his audience and engaging them with interesting anecdotes and viewpoints. Follow on X, @tukaletura.