Patrick Vieira among 21 new coaches beginning 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying

Patrick Vieira will lead Senegal into qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations this week, as 21 new coaches take charge of national teams across the continent.

The group stage begins on Thursday, with 48 countries starting their campaigns for a place at next year’s finals. Six of the 10 African nations who competed at the World Cup have appointed new coaches.

Vieira, who was born in Dakar, has replaced Pape Bouna Thiaw after Senegal’s disappointing World Cup campaign. The team had been expected to provide Africa’s strongest challenge at the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, but their underwhelming performance led to Thiaw losing his job.

Vieira was still a child when he and his mother moved from Senegal to France, whom he helped win the 1998 World Cup. He returned to Senegal as an adult and spoke about his memories of the city.

“I have lots of flashes, such as the place where I used to play football with a tennis ball,” Vieira said.

His first matches in charge will both be away from home, with Senegal visiting Mozambique and Ethiopia before facing Comoros in a friendly in Marseille. There will be no home debut for Vieira this month.

Mosimane begins second Bafana Bafana spell

Former SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns and Al-Ahly (Cairo) coach Pitso Mosimane is also starting a second spell in charge of South Africa.

Bafana Bafana host Guinea at Orlando Stadium on Saturday (3pm) before travelling to Cairo to face Eritrea at a neutral venue on Wednesday.

Two coaches who have already won the Africa Cup of Nations are beginning new national-team roles. Aliou Cisse, who guided Senegal to the 2021 title, is now in charge of Angola, who play Egypt in Cairo on Friday.

Herve Renard, winner with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015, has returned to coach Ivory Coast. His first assignment is a difficult home game against neighbours Ghana.

Renard was brought in as an emergency appointment to coach Tunisia at the World Cup after Sabri Lamouchi was dismissed following a heavy defeat in the team’s opening match. Tunisia have since appointed former international defender Moin Chaabani in an attempt to improve their fortunes.

Sebastien Migne is the new coach of Gabon, who begin their qualifying campaign away to Morocco on Friday. The Frenchman has previous experience of facing Morocco, having coached Haiti when they twice held the lead against them in a World Cup group game in Atlanta before eventually losing 4-2.

Claude Le Roy, 78, is returning to international management with Congo. His side visit Namibia on Thursday in his 12th national-team appointment and his second spell with the Congolese, whom he coached from 2013 to 2015.

Le Roy holds the record for the most Africa Cup of Nations tournament appearances as a coach, with nine, and the most matches managed at the finals, with 38.