Football enthusiasts are in for a hearty feast of football as the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off in Ivory Coast.
The continental championship, scheduled from January 13th to February 11th, 2024, features the participation of 24 national teams.
Undoubtedly, foreign coaches exert their influence over the participating teams in the current edition of the AFCON.
Leading the charge is Portuguese coach Roy Vitoria, at the helm of the Egyptian national team.
Vitoria shoulders the aspirations of the Pharaohs’ fans to reclaim the coveted title.
Egypt has not tasted continental glory since its last triumph in 2010 in Angola.
Another Portuguese tactician, Jose Peseiro, commands the Nigerian national team.
Peseiro, along with the Super Eagles, aspires to clinch the continental title after a prolonged absence.
Nigeria has clinched the AFCON three times in 1980, 1994, and 2013.
Belgian coach Hugo Broos, currently guiding the South African national team, is another foreign coach in the AFCON lineup.
Broos previously steered Cameroon to AFCON victory in 2017, defeating Egypt in the final.
Ivory Coast, hosting the tournament amid its fervent supporters, is under the guidance of French coach Jean-Louis Gasset.
Turning attention to local coaches, Waleed Al-Rakraky, the head coach of the Moroccan national team, stands out.
Al-Rakraky led the Atlas Lions to prominence in the 2022 World Cup, securing a commendable fourth-place finish.
Jamel Belmadi, at the helm of the Algerian national team, seeks redemption for their disappointing performance in the previous edition in Cameroon, where the Desert Warriors shockingly exited in the group stage, defying their title as the reigning champions from the 2019 edition.
Jalal Al-Qadri, coaching his homeland Tunisia, aspires to guide the Eagles of Carthage to new heights in the continental championship.
Furthermore, Aliou Cisse, aiming to retain the title, leads the Senegal national team.
Cisse steered Senegal to AFCON triumph in the last edition, defeating Egypt in a thrilling final.
As the AFCON unfolds, the clash between seasoned foreign tacticians and locally adept coaches promises to deliver a tournament full of strategic battles and unexpected twists on the African football stage.
