At the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, there are many coaches who have already built up their reputations during their playing careers; some have consolidated their notoriety at the helm of African selections. There are still others who have made a name for themselves through their various experiences with African teams. But alongside these faces, there are other technicians with rich backgrounds who are less well known to the African public.Sport News Africa takes a brief look at these coaches.
Pedro-Leitao-Brito, Cape Verde coach
Juan Micha (Equatorial Guinea)Juan Micha Obiang, born on July 28, 1975, is a former striker who played for the Equatorial Guinean national team at senior level in the late 1990s and early 2000s. After completing his playing career, Micha became a coach in Madrid (Spain).In 2015, Micha was appointed coach of his country's Under-17 national team. He later coached the U20s and was assistant coach for the senior women's team.
In October 2020, he was chosen by the FEGUIFUT president to coach the national team for the official matches against Libya in November. With Nzalang Nacional winning both matches, FEGUIFUT asked him to remain on the bench.In March 2021, he officially signed a one-year contract to become the first-choice coach. Two days later, he won against Tanzania, qualifying his country for the AFCON 2021, where he later reached the quarter-finals, only to be eliminated by Senegal (3-1).
He renewed his contract until 2024, qualifying his country for the second consecutive time for the African soccer feast. As coach, he holds the record for most wins. He has coached 16 matches, winning 13, losing 3 and drawing 4.
For the forthcoming AFCON , Equatorial Guinea, which he coaches, is placed in Group A with Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau and Nigeria.
Baciro Kandé: (Guinea-Bissau)
Born on April 6, 1967 in Guinea-Bissau, Baciro Candé is a former international who played as a defender. He coached Djurtus from 2001 to 2009.He then coached Sporting Club de Bissau, before taking over the reins of the national team in 2016. The technician qualified Guinea for the 4th consecutive AFCON finals. Unfortunately, he never got beyond the group stage.
Pedro Leitão Brito (Cape Verde)
Cape Verde coach Pedro Leitão Brito was born on January 6, 1970.He is a former footballer. The former defender won 28 caps for his country.
Between 2007 and 2013, Bubista was assistant coach of the national team.He then moved on to local clubs. Pedro became assistant coach again in 2017, before returning to club football the following year. Leitao was appointed coach in 2020, a position he has held ever since. He qualified his team for the AFCON 2021. The former international will therefore be playing in his 2nd consecutive AFCON. At the last edition, he was eliminated in the 8th round by Senegal (2-0).
Cape Verde share Group B with Mozambique, Egypt and Ghana.
Rui Vitória (Egypt)
Egypt coach Rui Vitória is a former Portuguese footballer who played in the lower divisions. The 53-year-old has coached clubs in the Portuguese elite: Pacos de Ferreira, Vitoria Guimaraes, and Benfica from (2015 to 2019) among other experiences. He won 3 championships with the Lisbon club. Al Nassr and Spartak Moscow are also on his coaching CV. He has been at the helm of Egypt since 2022. He is about to discover the CAN.
Chiquinho Conde (Mozambique)
Mozambique coach Chiquinho Conde is another former player (striker) who played for Portugal for many years.He played 43 games for the national team, scoring 12 goals. He also took part in 3 African Cup of Nations tournaments with the Nzalang (1986, 1996 and 1998). After retiring in 2005 at the age of 40, he immediately began coaching teams in the Mozambican championship. Then, from 2018 to 2020, he coached Vitoria Setubal's U23s.In 2021, he was entrusted with the destiny of Mozambican soccer. This will be his first AFCON coaching experience.
Angola (Pedro Gonçalves)
Angola coach Pedro Valdemar Soares Gonçalves is Portuguese. The 47-year-old has had experience in his homeland as a youth coach, notably with Sporting Portugal, where he was in charge of the academy. It was at youth level that he was first entrusted with responsibilities in Angola. There, he managed the Primera d'Agosto Under-15 and Under-17 teams. In 2018, he was elected national coach of Angola's Under-17s. Goncalves qualified them for the World Cup in the category. He also coached the U20s and U23s before being rewarded with the senior national team in 2019. Pedro also holds the reins of the local national team, which he led to the previous CHAN.He has qualified the team for the AFCON 2023, a competition he will be discovering.
Amir Abdou (Mauritania)
Amir Abdou, current coach of Les Mourabitounes, is Franco-Mauritanian. In addition to his early career in the domestic divisions in France, the 51-year-old technician's notable achievements include an appointment to head the Comorian national team in 2015, which he will not leave until 2022. He took the team to the next level, qualifying them for the 2021 CAF Africa Cup of Nations by the end of their 3rd African Zone qualifying campaign. The Comoros caused a sensation with their generosity and sense of sacrifice, but were eliminated in the Round of 8, having given their all and seduced many.Between 2020 and 2022, Amir Abdou was also head coach of Mauritanian club FC Nouadhibou. In March 2022, he was appointed coach of Mauritania, qualifying them for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations and confirming his coaching and managerial skills.
Collin Benjamin (Namibia)
Collin Benjamin, Namibia's coach, was born in 1978 (aged 45). He had a professional playing career in Germany. Benjamin played as a midfielder. He played for Hamburg SV from 2001 to 2011. He ended his career at Munich 1860 in 2012. Collin represented Namibia at international level between 1999 and 2012.He won 32 caps. The former international took part in the AFCON with the Brave Warriors in (2008). He took his first steps as a coach with his last club Munich 1860. He then joined the Namibia staff as an assistant in 2018.
In June 2022, he was promoted to head coach, replacing Bobby Samarie.He has a record of 4 wins, 4 draws and 4 defeats in 12 matches since taking over.Collin Benjamin brilliantly qualified Namibia for the AFCON 2023 in a 3-way group with Cameroon and Burundi.Benjamin beat Cameroon at home (2-1) and drew with them (1-1).
Jalel Kadri (Tunisia)
Jalel Kadri has been coach of Tunisia since January 30, 2022. Before that, he was assistant to his predecessor, Mondher Kebaier.Since 2021. He was assistant coach at the AFCON 2021, where he replaced the coach who was hit by the Covid in the 8th round win over Nigeria. After being eliminated in the quarter-finals of the AFCON , he was chosen to act as interim coach. He qualified Tunisia for the World Cup, where they were eliminated in the 1st round, despite an encouraging tournament that gave them cause for regret. At the end of which, he was given a contract that runs until 2024.
Read also: CAN 2023: everything you need to know about Tunisia
Before taking charge of Tunisia, the 52-year-old coach had countless experiences on the benches of Tunisian clubs.These experiences began in 2001. He has coached EGS Gafsa, CA Bizertin and Stade Tunisien, among others.He has also coached the Tunisian U20s and a number of foreign clubs, including Al-Ahli Tripoli and Emrates Club.
Adel Amrouche (Tanzania)
Tanzania coach Adil Amrouche is a 55-year-old former international. He was appointed in March 2023.His record in the AFCON qualifiers was 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat, leading Tanzania to the forthcoming AFCON . As a coach, he has led Burundi, Kenya, Libya, Botswana and Yemen. He has also held positions as technical director of FCA Brussels, RU St Gilloise; manager of DC Motemba PB (DRC), Equatorial Guinea, FC Volyn Loutsk (Ukraine).The coach will discover the AFCON .
Jose Peseiro (Nigeria)
Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro, 63, has been at the helm of the Super Eagles since December 29, 2021. He played the entire qualifying phase for AFCON 2023, where Nigeria qualified. However, Peseiro failed to qualify Nigeria for the World Cup, losing out to Ghana in the final qualifier. He had previous international experience with Venezuela, whom he coached before Nigeria. The Portuguese technician has also had a rich coaching career at club level. He has coached numerous Portuguese clubs, including Braga, Porto and Vitoria Guimarães, as well as foreign clubs Panathinaikos, Al-Ahly and Rapid Bucharest.
José Peseiro was also Carlos Queiroz's assistant at Real Madrid. The coach has been on the circuit since 1992, which speaks volumes for the experience he has accumulated.But he is not unanimously acclaimed in Nigeria.In fact, he's a hotly disputed figure. He too will be contesting his 1st AFCON.
Other lesser-known AFCON coaches
Kaba Diawara (Guinea Conakry)
Jean-Louis Gasset (Ivory Coast)
Djamel Belmadi (Algeria)
Rigobert Song (Cameroon)
Walid Regragui (Morocco)
Aliou Cissé (Senegal)
Hugo Broos (South Africa)
Chris Hughton (Ghana)
Sébastien Desabre (DR Congo)
Tom Saintfiet (Gambia)
Hubert Velud (Burkina Faso)
Avram Grant (Zambia)
Eric Chelle (Mali)
Rui Vitoria est le 2ème entraîneur le mieux payé d’Afrique ! 🇪🇬🤑
[Via @90minFR] #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | #CAN2023 pic.twitter.com/uJPjdZdYwV
— Onze Masr 🇪🇬 (@onzemasr) January 5, 2024
