Arsène Wenger has lauded the standard of coaching displayed at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, describing the tournament as a strong indicator of African football’s continued progress.
Senegal national football team clinched the title after edging hosts Morocco national football team 1-0 in a tightly contested final, with Pape Gueye netting the decisive goal in extra time.
Reflecting on the competition, the former Arsenal manager said the intensity and competitiveness of the tournament mirrored the demands of modern football.
“I would say that overall the competition was extremely intense, which is a hallmark of modern football,” Wenger said as reported by Flashscore. “The mental attitude of all the teams was very strong, and the physical level was absolutely unbelievable.
He added that the narrow margins between teams made results increasingly unpredictable.
“The competition was highly competitive. When you watch the matches, it is very difficult to predict who will win because the level of the teams is very close. In the end, the two teams that reached the final had that little extra in terms of technical quality and maturity.
“I was particularly impressed by the level of the coaches. I am also very happy to see African coaches leading African national teams, which is very positive,” Wenger said.
“It shows that the organisational level was very high and that the decisions made by the coaches during matches were very good. Overall, this is extremely encouraging.”
Wenger reserved special praise for the coaches, highlighting the growing influence of African tacticians on the continental stage. “I was particularly impressed by the level of the coaches.
Seeing African coaches leading African national teams is very positive. It reflects a high organisational standard and excellent in-game decision-making.”
According to Wenger, this progress also underlines how rapidly knowledge and innovation now spread across the global game.
“It also shows that there is no longer a gap. In modern sport, information travels very quickly and everyone operates at a top level, where the marginal differences are very small.”
As part of his role with FIFA, Wenger explained that the AFCON Technical Study Group plays a key role in analysing emerging trends to shape future development.
“We analyse competitions to identify trends and understand what emerges from the teams that succeed, what we can anticipate in the future, where we need to improve, and how we can continue to evolve,” Wenger said.
“The technical study group has a responsibility to analyse these trends and help guide development, to understand what is important in player development and what can be added to what is already happening today.”
He concluded by stressing the long-term value of such analysis, particularly in preparing young players for elite football.
“For us, this is extremely valuable in continuing to develop young players for the highest level.”
