Football: Afcon 2025 semifinals |12 January 2026

Coaches Hossam Hassan of Egypt (top left), Pape Thiaw of Senegal (top right), Walid Regragui of Morocco (bottom left) and Eric Chelle of Mali have carried the torch forward

Indigenous coaches take centre stage

The milestone marks a growing shift in African football, where local coaches are increasingly trusted to lead, innovate, and succeed at the highest level of the continent.

For the first time in the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) history, all four semifinalists are led by African coaches, guaranteeing a fourth consecutive tournament victory for a homegrown tactician.

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