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The Five Most Successful African Coaches Ever

Stephen Keshi

Morocco made Africa proud by getting to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA 2022 world cup. It was notably the first time an African side had gotten that far in the world cup. While punters flocked to top bookmakers like https://bookmaker.xyz/ for exciting odds on the world cup, very few predicted Morocco knocking off traditional football giants like Spain and Portugal.

Interestingly, the Morocco team was led by a Moroccan himself, Walid Regragui. This was a testament that African coaches can excel on the biggest football stages.

Walid Regragui's success inspired us to comb through history to compile the most successful coaches Africa has ever produced.

Here are the legends we found. We'll also examine some of the records they have held.

Lamine N'Diaye

This Senegalese strategist began his playing career as an attacker for French clubs Mulhouse and Cannes while also frequently representing his nation. After managing Mulhouse for a brief period, he went on to lead Coton Sport in Cameroon from 2003 and 2006.

Later, he managed the legendary African team TP Mazembe and proceeded to a few other teams before settling with Horoya AC of Guinea after taking over the reins in November 2019.

His greatest professional achievement was competing on the biggest platform of them all at the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup, as his team advanced to the finals before losing to Inter Milan in extra time.

Aside from that, he has a 60.27% win in his coaching career so far, winning 44 out of 73 games in charge, making him one of the best coaches that the continent has produced.

Stephen Keshi

Before leading the Super Eagles to victory in 2013, Keshi, also known as "Big Boss," won the AFCON as a player in 1994.

In his 11 years as national team captain, he led his team to gold, silver, and bronze medals at the Africa Cup of Nations.

He became one of a select few former football players to win the AFCON as both a player and manager in 2013 when Nigeria defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 in the finals in South Africa.

Stephen Keshi previously served as the Togolese national team's head coach for two terms, guiding them to their first World Cup appearance in 2006 in Germany.

Additionally, he was the first African coach to successfully advance Nigeria and Togo to the World Cup finals.

In 2013, he also assisted Nigeria in becoming the first nation to win an AFCON trophy and reach the World Cup.

Nigeria's outstanding performance and win at the AFCON 2013 earned him the title of Africa Coach of the Year 2013, according to CAF.

At the age of 54, Keshi passed away in June 2016 in Benin City, Nigeria.

Mahmoud El Gohary

Mahmoud Al Gohary of Egypt is the only other person aside from Stephen Keshi to have won the AFCON both as a player and manager.

El Gohari joined Al Ahly as a coach after leaving the game as a player, then rose to an assistant manager from 1965 through 1977.

Subsequently, he was appointed Dettmar Cramer's deputy manager at Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia in 1977 after leaving Al Ahly. After the 1981 campaign, Cramer left Al-Ittihad, and El-Gohary was given the managerial position.

The first of many trophies El-Gohary would win as a manager came with Al-Ittihad's first-ever Saudi Premier League victory.

After a 56-year absence from the World Cup, Egypt's National Team qualified for the competition in 1990 under his leadership.

Also, when the Jordanian national team climbed to the 37th spot in the FIFA World Rankings in August 2004, they did so with him as their manager. They also qualified for their first (AFC) Asian Football Confederation in China in 2004 under him.

El-Gohary passed away in Amman, Jordan, on August 31, 2012.

Gordon Igesund

In 2012, Igesund was selected to lead South Africa's national team. This outstanding coach led them for two years before moving on to join SuperSport United, where he remained until 2016.

One of the greatest African managers in history, Gordon Igesund, won four Premier Soccer League championships with Manning Rangers, Santos, Orlando Pirates, and Sundowns, one BP Top Eight Cup, one SAA Super Eight Cup, and one Telkom Knockout with SuperSport United.

Pitso Mosimane

This South African manager began his managing career in 2001 with Supersport United, where he spent six years.

He joined the South African national team in 2006 as an assistant coach. Up until 2010, Mosimane held this post before taking over as the team's head coach.

This outstanding manager spent two years in charge of South Africa before joining Mamelodi Sundowns. He remained there until 2020 before relocating to Al Ahli.

One of the greatest African coaches of all time, Pitso Mosimane won one Nedbank Cup and one SAA Super Eight Cup with Supersport United. He also won two Nedbank cups, five Premier Soccer League championships, one CAF Super Cup, one CAF Champions League, one Egypt Cup, two CAF Champions Leagues, and CAF Super Cups with Al Ahli.

Conclusion

So, there you have it: 5 of the most successful football coaches from Africa. These men have led their teams to unbelievable feats, and many of them have also been recognized for their work on the continent and beyond.

As the sport continues to grow in popularity on the continent, even more coaches will likely achieve success.

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