Kheireddine Madoui Makes History as Youngest Coach to Win CAF Champions League
By BBC Sport Africa
Blida, Algeria
ES Sétif head coach Kheireddine Madoui etched his name into the history books on Saturday by becoming the youngest manager ever to win the CAF Champions League.
At just 37 years old, Madoui guided the Algerian side to continental glory after a tense 1-1 draw with AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the second leg of the final in Blida. With a 2-2 result from the first leg in Kinshasa, Sétif triumphed on away goals to secure their second African title — 26 years after their first in 1988.
“What we’re experiencing is fabulous!” Madoui told reporters after the match. “A few months ago, we started from scratch. In a way, we had everything to prove.”
The final was a closely contested affair, with Sétif scoring first through Sofiane Younès in the 50th minute, only for Vita Club to respond four minutes later through Lema Mabidi’s thunderous long-range strike.
Despite the pressure, Madoui’s side held firm. “I think the hardest part was done in Kinshasa,” the coach said. “Today, we were united. We had some good counterattacks and our goalkeeper and defenders delivered an excellent performance. At times, our defense was under fire, but we stood strong.”
Madoui credited his team’s cohesion and determination as the decisive factor in their victory. “There’s an exceptional spirit of solidarity in this group. We resisted and took advantage of the slightest opportunity. The most important thing is definitely the victory.”
The win also marks a significant moment for Algerian football, as ES Sétif becomes the first club from the country to win the CAF Champions League in its current format. The triumph earns them a place in the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco — a historic first for the club and a major milestone for Algerian club football.
Madoui, a former Sétif player himself, took over the team earlier this year and has since led them on an extraordinary journey to African supremacy. His achievement is not only a personal triumph but a testament to the club’s resilience and ambition.
As celebrations continue in Blida and across Algeria, the young coach has firmly established himself as one of the brightest minds in African football.
