Who are Africans next big managers who are equally ready to show their resilience and coaching acumen on the touch-line?
Africa being a home to talented coaches who’ve led teams to glory, instilled winning mentalities, and delivered spectacular football styles of play has seen many coaches put their names on the world map.
While football on the continent is fast witnessing the emergence of young homegrown coaches, who are already testing their mettle against the established managers in the beautiful game, let’s do a roll-call of the continent’s young coaches.
- 1. Daniel Ogunmodede – (Remo Stars)
- 2. Fidelis Ilechukwu – (Rangers International)
- 3. Yaya Toure – (Saudi Arabia, Assistant Coach)
- 4. Omar Daf – (Amiens)
- 5. Habib Beye – (Unattached)
- 6. Kolo Toure – (Unattached)
- 7. Lehlohonolo Seema – (Sekhukhune United)
- 8. Kagisho Dikgacoi – (Golden Arrows)
- 9. Vusumuzi Vilakazi – (AmaZulu FC)
- 10. Ahmed Khattab – (Pharco FC)
1. Daniel Ogunmodede – (Remo Stars)
Coach Daniel’s rise to being one of the finest young coaches on the continent, is stems from an aspiring doctor to one of the most influential football coaches in Africa.
His coaching journey began after an appendix operation cut short his dreams of playing football professionally, which led him to pursue a career in football management having been offered a scholarship to pursue coaching certification.
Since becoming the head coach of the Sky Blue of Ikenne, IjaBall as he’s popularly called, has recorded commendable success finishing second on the NPFL log and qualifying for the CAF Champions League.
2. Fidelis Ilechukwu – (Rangers International)
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Ilechukwu’s rise to being one of the best young coaches in Africa stems from being a full-fledged businessman having served a boss for six years before his love for football paved the way for the coaching world.
His first professional assignment on the touch-line started with MFM FC in 2006-07, where he won a trophy and eventually spent 13 years at the club moving from amateur to semi-pro and then the NPFL.
After years of working with MFM, he moved to Heartland, spending just two seasons there before a move to Plateau United a club he wrote his name in gold before finally joining Rangers International.
3. Yaya Toure – (Saudi Arabia, Assistant Coach)
Toure, began his coaching craft following his retirement, joining Ukrainian outfit Olimpik Donetsk as an assistant manager but surprisingly left the club after four months.
Akhmat Grozny, another Russian side appointed him four months after leaving Olimpik Donetsk to become the assistant until June 2022 before moving to Tottenham Hotspur to manage their academy.
A few months after taking the job of Spur’s youth team, he took the reign at Belgium side Standard Liege as an assistant before moving to Saudi Arabia in 2023 as an assistant.
4. Omar Daf – (Amiens)
The legendary Senegalese defender first started his managerial career as an assistant for the Teranga Lions and as well doubled up as the head coach of Sochaux at the time.
Daf also spent few time in charge of Dijon after leaving Sochaux, but his reign with “Les Rouges” didn’t take long before he switched clubs again to be announced the head coach of Amiens.
He has turned the fortune of ‘Les Licornes’ around since taking the reign at the Stade de la Licorne, with his tactical innovation helping the team to 8th position on the Ligue 2 table this season.
5. Habib Beye – (Unattached)
After retiring Beye didn’t start his coaching career instantly, he first delved into football punditry on France’s number sports channel Canal+.
In 2021 he switched from football punditry to management, becoming the assistant coach of a third-tier side Red Star where he worked alongside Vincent Bordot.
Beye became an instant success as an interim boss following the departure of Bordot, leading the team to an impressive 11th finish on the log and a third-place finish before he finally secured promotion to Ligue 2 for the first time in six years in the 2023-24 campaign.
6. Kolo Toure – (Unattached)
Kolo last managed Wigan Athletic as head coach in the Championship, before he was sacked in January 2023 following the club’s failure to win any game it’s nine fixtures.
Meanwhile, prior to when he took the reign at the Brick Community Stadium in 2022, he had worked as a member of the Ivorian national team coaching staff and the U-23 team.
He also honed his managerial skill under the tutelage of Brendan Rodgers, as an assistant at Celtic and Leicester City in 2017 and 2019 respectively before the move to Wigan.
7. Lehlohonolo Seema – (Sekhukhune United)
Seema, a South African football coach born in Maseru, Lesotho, was a brilliant footballer who had a fulfilling career playing for Bloemfontein Celtic and Orlando Pirates.
After retiring from active football he transitioned to the managerial side of the game, starting as the head of talent scout at Bloemfontein in 2013 and later as a coach of the developing team.
His natural leadership qualities and tactical acumen saw him appointed as assistant coach of the team’s senior side in 2015 before finally assuming the position as head coach in 2017.
He has since managed other teams in the PSL including Chippa United, Black Leopards, Lamontville Golden Arrows, Polokwane City and now as the head coach of Sekhukhune United.
8. Kagisho Dikgacoi – (Golden Arrows)
Dikgacoi is a seasoned football veteran who has brought his wealth of experience into football management after retiring from active football just like many other retired players.
His first managerial appointment was in charge of the National First Division side, Royal Eagles, after he took over from Roger Sikhakhane bringing his tactical acumen and leadership qualities into the team set-up.
Now as a co-coach alongside Mabhudi Khenzeza, he is fast becoming one of the best young coaches on the continent having first honed his coaching craft at Royal Eagles and Witbank Spurs.
9. Vusumuzi Vilakazi – (AmaZulu FC)
Vilakazi, being one of the young coaches in Africa has spent his entire managerial career in South Africa, working with Golden Arrows as a co-coach, a short spell at Chippa United and as an assistant at Richards Bay.
He emerged as the next in line to take over from Pablo Franco Martin following his sack, and he has since been with the team in the PSL making his wealth of experience count.
The KwaZulu-Natal outfit may not be as big as Sundowns, Pirates, and Chiefs in terms of quality players but with the arrival of Zungu and Mthethwa, the coaching crew should be able to steady the ship.
10. Ahmed Khattab – (Pharco FC)
Ahmed Khattab is a young Egyptian tactician who is currently in charge of Pharco FC in the Egyptian top-flight league.
Khattab isn’t a well-known or renowned coach but is been going about his job with dexterity and consistency, against the league giants like Al-Ahly and Zamalek.
With time the young tactician his going to write his name in the folklore of Pharco FC with his achievement and the results of building a team with total confidence.
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