For the first time in the history of the world’s prestigious tournament, all five African countries to participate will have the services of all African tacticians Unless anything changes before the kick off.
Morocco, Senegal, Cameroon, Tunisia and Ghana who are hoping to be the first from Africa to win the elusive trophy could be led by a citizens from same countries.
WALID REGRADUI – MOROCCO
Walid Regradui, 46, is the head coach of the Morocco national football team. Born in France, Regragui was a full international for Morocco. He played for some clubs in France including Toulouse, AC Ajaccio, Grenoble and Racing Santander
Walid was appointed to replace Vahid Halilhodžić, who led the North Africans to the tournament. Regradui is on a high, having coached Wydad Casablanca to the CAF Champions League title in May.
HONOURS
During his time as a player, he won the Ligue 2 in 2002 with Ajaccio. He also guided Morocco to finish second during the 2004 AFCON.
Having coached for almost ten years, the 46 old gaffer has won great and well known trophies including the CAF Champions League.
[Fath Union Sport]
Botola: 2015–16
Moroccan Throne Cup: 2013–14
[Al-Duhail]
Qatar Stars League: 2019–20
[Wydad AC]
CAF Champions League: 2021–22
Botola: 2021–22
SENEGAL – ALIOU CISSÉ
Aliou Cissé, 46, needs no introduction. He was part of the Senegal team that took the world by storm at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
He became the first coach to lead the Teranga Lions to win their first continental this year at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
HONOURS
PLAYER
Paris Saint-Germain
Coupe de la Ligue runner-up: 1999–2000
UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2001
Senegal
Africa Cup of Nations runner-up: 2002
MANAGER
Senegal
Africa Cup of Nations: 2021; runner-up: 2019
Individual
Africa Cup of Nations Coach of the Tournament: 2021
CAF Awards Coach of the Year: 2022
CAMEROON – RIGOBERT SONG
Rigobert Song, 46, has been in the coaching job since 2018.
Known for his defensive skills during his time as a player, Song usually played as a centre back but could also operate at right back.
Internationally, he played at a record eight Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and served as captain in five (the ones he was not captain for were South Africa 1996, Burkina Faso 1998 and Angola 2010), a record, and holds the record of most consecutive games played in the tournament with 35 first team games. He has won two CAF Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2000 and 2002. In 2009, Song was dropped as Cameroon skipper by new coach Paul Le Guen, who eventually appointed Samuel Eto’o as the new captain but later caused concerns as Song had never been on the bench in more than 11 years for Cameroon. With 137 appearances, Song also holds the record of the most capped player in the history of the Cameroon national team and has played in four World Cups, in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010.
The legendary Rigobert Song, one of the most recognisable Cameroonian former footballers, knows what it takes to be part of a World Cup tournament.
He won two CAF Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2000 and 2002.
HONOURS
PLAYER
Metz
Coupe de la Ligue: 1995–96
Liverpool
UEFA Cup: 2000–01
Galatasaray
Süper Lig: 2005–06, 2007–08
Turkish Cup: 2004–05
Trabzonspor
Turkish Cup: 2009–10
Cameroon
African Cup of Nations: 2000, 2002; runner-up: 2008
Confederations Cup runner-up: 2003
Individual
IFFHS All-time Africa Men’s Dream Team: 2021
TUNISIA – JALELA KADRI
Jalela was appointed as Tunisia’s national team manager after being eliminated from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Burkina Faso. He led the team to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
He was emergency appointment following the sacking of Mondher Kebaier.
The 50-year-old gaffer started his coaching career in 2002 (20-years ago) with Tunisian side AS Djerba
He led Tunisia to win the 2022 Kirin Cup held in Japan as part of preparations for the World Cup.
OTTO ADDO – GHANA
The former Ghanaian international was appointed to replace Milovan Rajevac after Ghana’s abysmal performance in the AFCON held in Cameroon early this year.
The 47-year-old tactician currently works as a deputy manager for the Bundesliga side, Burussia Dortmund in Germany.
Born in Germany, Otto Addo decided to play for Ghana. He was capped in 15 games for the national team between 1999 and 2006.
He started his coaching career with his former club Hamburger SV in 2009, in the process serving as a youth team coach and an assistant manager till 2015.
He’s been with Dortmund since 2019. He also worked with Borussia Mönchengladbach as ‘Talent Coach’ from 2017 to 2019.
On 29 March 2022, he qualified Ghana (on away goals) to the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup final after drawing 1–1 against the Super Eagles of Nigeria. The Black Stars of Ghana had earlier drawn 0–0 against the Super Eagles on 25 March 2022.
