AFCON 2025 guarantees fourth straight title for African coach as semi-finals

For the first time in Africa Cup of Nations history, all four semi-finalists in 2025 are led by African coaches, ensuring that the tournament will be won by a homegrown tactician for a fourth consecutive edition. It is a landmark moment that reflects a clear shift in African football, where local coaches are no longer just participants but key drivers of success at the highest level.

Recent tournaments have pointed firmly in this direction. Djamel Belmadi guided Algeria to the title in 2019, Aliou Cissé delivered Senegal’s first AFCON crown in 2021, and Emerse Fae led Côte d’Ivoire to glory in 2023.

Each success underlined the value of local knowledge, leadership, and tactical clarity. At AFCON 2025, Walid Regragui, Hossam Hassan, Pape Thiaw, and Eric Chelle now have the chance to extend that legacy and further establish the authority of African managers on the continental stage.

The numbers support the narrative. Of the 24 teams at the tournament, 15 were coached by Africans. Eleven of those progressed beyond the group stage, and African-led teams have accounted for 75 per cent of all wins so far. These figures point to more than results; they reflect cohesion, discipline, and a deep cultural and tactical understanding between coaches and players.

Across the tournament, African coaches have shaped matches with tactical intelligence and strong leadership. Their ability to motivate, adapt, and read the game has been decisive, turning AFCON 2025 into a showcase of homegrown expertise.

Only two African greats, Mahmoud El-Gohary and Stephen Keshi, have won the AFCON both as players and coaches. Hossam Hassan could join that exclusive group if he leads Egypt to the title in 2025, adding another historic layer to the tournament.

As the competition enters its decisive phase, one message is clear. African coaches are firmly in control, and whoever lifts the trophy will represent not just national success, but the continued rise of local managers shaping the future of African football.

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