CAF Awards 2026: Regragui and Thiaw nominated as club coaches emerge as favourites

Walid Regragui and Pape Thiaw have both been included on the 10-man shortlist for the CAF African Coach of the Year award, but their controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign may count against them.

The Morocco and Senegal managers are meeting again in the aftermath of a final that remains unresolved nine months on. Senegal won the match 1-0 on the pitch, but the Confederation of African Football later sanctioned the Lions and awarded the trophy to Morocco.

The dispute is not yet over. Senegal’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport is still awaiting a decision, a process which could ultimately damage the prospects of both coaches.

Regragui can point to Morocco’s run to the Africa Cup of Nations final as the main achievement behind his nomination. However, he did not remain in charge for the whole of the year and left his role before the World Cup.

His candidacy also comes against the backdrop of his strong criticism of Thiaw after the final, which ended in a deeply controversial atmosphere.

Thiaw’s case is similarly complicated. He guided Senegal to victory on the field in Rabat, but the team’s temporary walk-off, the disciplinary consequences that followed and an early exit in the World Cup last 16 weakened his overall record.

Thiaw has since been replaced as Senegal manager by Patrick Vieira.

Club success strengthens rivals

The two finalists appear to face stronger competition from coaches who won clearly defined honours in African club football during the year.

Miguel Cardoso could be the leading candidate. The Portuguese coach guided Mamelodi Sundowns to the club’s second African Champions League title after a final victory over AS FAR, managed by Alexandre Santos.

Lamine N’Diaye is another serious contender. Appointed by USM Alger during the campaign, the Senegalese coach led the Algerian club to the Confederation Cup before also winning the Algerian Cup.

That domestic and continental double, combined with N’Diaye’s experience, makes him Cardoso’s principal challenger.

Mohamed Ouahbi gives Morocco another representative on the shortlist. After leading the country’s Under-20 side to the 2025 world title, he took charge of the senior team and guided the Atlas Lions to the World Cup quarter-finals.

Sebastien Desabre, Bubista and Hossam Hassan have also been recognised for the progress made with DR Congo, Cape Verde and Egypt respectively. All three helped their national sides qualify for the 2026 World Cup and could challenge the leading candidates if the vote produces a surprise.

Regragui and Thiaw are likely to attract the greatest attention because of the rivalry surrounding them. Yet the award may instead go to a coach whose achievements were secured without dispute on the African club stage.