CAF assembles star-studded African technical masterminds for 2026 World Cup review after historic run

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will bring together some of the continent’s leading football minds to assess Africa’s historic performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup during its Strategy Conference in Cape Verde.

A star-studded Technical Review Panel featuring immediate-past Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz, Egypt boss Hossam Hassan, Morocco’s Mohamed Ouahbi, DR Congo coach Sébastien Desabre and former Cabo Verde coach Pedro Brito “Bubista” will join FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger for the high-level discussion.

The conference, taking place in Sal, Cabo Verde, from October 7 to 9, will bring together coaches from CAF’s 54 Member Associations, football leaders, technical experts and legends to examine the lessons from the 2026 World Cup and discuss the future direction of African football.

Africa enjoyed its strongest collective showing at a World Cup, with a record 10 nations participating and nine progressing to the knockout stages.

Wenger will provide a global technical perspective following his work with FIFA’s Technical Study Group, which analysed all 104 matches at the tournament and assessed the tactical and technical trends that shaped the competition.

Ouahbi will share his experience of guiding Morocco to the quarter-finals, continuing the Atlas Lions’ rise among the leading national teams in world football.

Bubista will reflect on Cabo Verde’s remarkable debut at the World Cup, having guided his country to its first appearance at the global finals and into the knockout stages.

Hassan will discuss Egypt’s historic campaign after leading the Pharaohs to their first-ever World Cup victory and a place in the knockout rounds.

Desabre will also bring valuable experience from DR Congo’s remarkable return to the World Cup after a 52-year absence, with the Leopards advancing to the Round of 32.

Queiroz will represent Ghana at the gathering and offer his perspective from the Black Stars’ campaign, adding to a coaching career that has included several international assignments across different continents.

The panel will examine a range of issues including tactical trends, tournament preparation, squad management, coaching leadership, player development and in-game adaptation.

CAF’s objective is to ensure the lessons from Africa’s 2026 performance translate into long-term development across the continent rather than simply serving as a review of tournament results.

The experiences shared by the coaches are expected to contribute to discussions on improving coaching structures, preparation methods and the competitiveness of African national teams ahad of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

The Technical Review Panel is set to be one of the major highlights of the CAF Strategy Conference as African football seeks to build on its historic 2026 World Cup campaign and establish a stronger foundation for future success.