All 4 AFCON Semi-Finalists Led by African Coaches

For the first time ever, every team in the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals is led by an African coach. No matter who lifts the trophy in 2025, it will mark four consecutive AFCON victories for homegrown tacticians.

The numbers tell a powerful story of local leadership taking center stage. Of the 24 teams at AFCON 2025, 15 were coached by Africans, with 11 advancing past the group stage. African-led teams accounted for 75 percent of all wins in the tournament.

Morocco's Walid Regragui, Egypt's Hossam Hassan, Senegal's Pape Thiaw, and Mali's Eric Chelle carried their nations into the final four. Each brought tactical skill, cultural understanding, and unwavering belief in their players.

This continues a remarkable trend that started gaining momentum in recent years. Djamel Belmadi won in 2019, Aliou Cissé triumphed in 2021, and Émerse Faé lifted the trophy in 2023. What was once an exception has become the new standard.

"We trust our ideas and our players," Regragui said. "African coaches understand the mentality needed to win here."

Hassan, who won AFCON as a player, could join rare company by winning as a coach. Only Egypt's Mahmoud El-Gohary and Nigeria's Stephen Keshi achieved that double. "This shows African coaches can manage pressure and deliver results at the highest level," Hassan said.

The Ripple Effect

The shift goes beyond one tournament. African football federations are increasingly trusting local coaches with their biggest dreams, and those coaches are proving worthy of that faith.

"African coaches are no longer learning. We are leading and setting standards," said Chelle, who is actually coaching Nigeria at the tournament despite the original article's error listing Mali.

Thiaw credited discipline and tactical clarity for Senegal's success. "We understand our players, our environment, and the rhythm of African football," he explained. That cultural connection has translated into cohesion on the field.

The trend signals a maturing football ecosystem across the continent. Local coaches bring institutional knowledge, emotional intelligence, and strategic innovation that resonates with African players. They're not just competing anymore. They're dominating.

As the semifinals approach, one truth stands clear: African football's future is being shaped by African minds, and the results speak for themselves.