CAF awards 2024: Emerse Faé and Sébastien Desabre lead coach of the year nominees

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the 10 nominees for the prestigious Coach of the Year award, recognizing the continent’s top football tacticians for their achievements in 2024. Among the favorites are Ivory Coast’s head coach Emerse Faé, and Sébastien Desabre, the Frenchman in charge of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Emerse Faé, who led Ivory Coast to victory at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), is widely seen as the frontrunner for the award.

His remarkable performance in securing the title with the Elephants has cemented his reputation as one of the continent’s top coaches.

Faé is expected to succeed Walid Regragui, the Franco-Moroccan coach who won the award last year after guiding Morocco’s Atlas Lions to success.

Another strong contender is South Africa’s Belgian coach, Hugo Broos. Broos steered the Bafana Bafana to the semi-finals of the recent AFCON, a significant achievement that has boosted his standing.

Alongside him, Sébastien Desabre also holds a solid chance after leading DR Congo to an impressive semi-final run.

One of the more surprising inclusions is Brama Traoré, coach of Burkina Faso.

His work with the Stallions, particularly leading them to early qualification for the 2025 AFCON ahead of reigning champions Senegal, has earned him a place on the shortlist.

Despite this achievement, Traoré remains a distant challenger compared to Faé and Desabre.

Also in the running are Marcel Koller, who guided Al Ahly to victory in the CAF Champions League, and José Gomes, whose Zamalek team won the CAF Confederation Cup.

Both coaches have seen their stock rise following their success on the continental stage.

Notably, two major absentees from the list have sparked debate. José Peseiro, the Portuguese coach who led Nigeria to the AFCON final, has been left off the list, a surprising omission considering his team’s performance.

Similarly, South Africa’s Rulani Mokwena, who has enjoyed incredible domestic success with four consecutive Absa Premiership titles and victory in the inaugural African Football League, also missed out on a nomination.

The list is completed by Florent Ibenge, who made history by guiding Sudan’s Al Hilal to their first African Champions League qualification, and Kwesi Appiah, the Ghanaian coach who has impressed in his work with Sudan’s national team.

Pedro Soares Gonçalves and Chiquinho Conde, coaches of Angola and Mozambique, respectively, round out the nominations after their impressive international campaigns.

The 2024 CAF Awards will be highly anticipated, with a fierce competition among some of the continent’s best coaches. However, with his AFCON triumph, Emerse Faé remains the man to beat.