The last four Africa Cup of Nations titles have confirmed a clear and growing trend in African football, with former international players leading their countries to continental glory.
Algeria’s triumph in 2019, Senegal’s successive successes in 2021 and 2025, and Ivory Coast’s title in 2023 were all achieved under the guidance of coaches who previously represented their nations at the highest level.
Djamel Belmadi, Aliou Cissé, Emerse Faé and Pape Bouna Thiaw share not only medals, but a common background shaped on the pitch.
Belmadi, who guided Algeria to the 2019 crown, earned 20 caps for the national team.
Senegal’s long-serving coach Aliou Cissé, a central figure in the Lions of Teranga’s recent dominance, featured 35 times for his country.
His compatriot Pape Bouna Thiaw, crowned champion in 2025, collected 16 international appearances, while Ivory Coast’s Emerse Faé leads the group with 44 caps.
Their success reflects a broader movement across the continent.
Several other former internationals also reached the latter stages of recent tournaments.
Egypt’s Hossam Hassan and Morocco’s Walid Regragui both guided their teams to the semi-finals in 2025.
Regragui, a finalist at the 2004 AFCON as a player, narrowly missed lifting the trophy again as a coach, while Hassan remains one of Africa’s most decorated footballers, having won the Africa Cup of Nations three times with Egypt in 1986, 1998 and 2006.
These examples underline the growing preference for national team coaches who possess first-hand international experience.
At the start of the most recent tournament, 15 of the 24 teams were led by African coaches, representing 62.5%. Of those, 11 progressed beyond the group stage, raising the figure to 69%, before all four semi-finalists were coached by Africans.
The trend is not limited to the continent. At global level, former internationals have also thrived in the dugout.
Luis Enrique, winner of the Champions League and Intercontinental Cup in 2025, and Lionel Scaloni, who guided Argentina to World Cup success in 2022, both followed similar paths.
These figures suggest a clear direction for African football.
Younger coaches, typically aged between 40 and 55, with international playing careers, are increasingly viewed as best placed to manage elite squads.
Their understanding of dressing-room dynamics, national identity and player mentality is proving decisive.
As African football continues to evolve, the dominance of former internationals on the sidelines appears set to shape future Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
