Friendlies: Petkovic, Addo, Hassan... how the new national team coaches fared

Vladimir Petkovic: bold calls that paid off

In his first two games in charge of Algeria, Vladimir Petkovic made changes. First of all tactically. The Swiss coach ditched the 4-3-3 and went back to the 4-4-2 that had been the Fennecs' strength in previous years. The outcome: a 3-2 win over Bolivia and a 3-3 draw with South Africa. His selection choices also worked. The former Bordeaux coach decided to recall several players who had been "banished" from the squad. Yassine Benzia returned to the Fennecs after almost 6 years away. Yacine Brahimi was also back, his last cap having come 26 months earlier. Both players were decisive. Against Bolivia, Brahimi provided an assist and Benzia scored. Against South Africa, Brahimi scored and set one up, while Benzia netted a brace, including a superb overhead kick, and also provided an assist for Brahimi.

The one sticking point for Vladimir Petkovic, however, is the defence. The Fennecs conceded 5 goals in two games. It is the first time since 2005 that a new national team coach has let in so many in his first two outings. That defensive fragility had already proved costly at the 2023 AFCON, with 4 goals conceded in 3 matches and, above all, a huge number of chances given away. With the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June and the 2025 AFCON qualifiers in September, the new coach will have the chance to make adjustments before then. But in Algeria, optimism about the national team's future under Petkovic is understandable.

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Hossam Hassan: no Salah, no bite; Otto Addo has work to do

In Egypt, however, Hossam Hassam had less luck than Algeria's new coach. After beating New Zealand (1-0) in the semi-final of the Winsunited Tournament, the Egyptians collapsed in the final against Croatia, losing 2-4. They were without Mohamed Salah, who stayed at Liverpool. In the absence of their attacking leader, the Pharaohs scored both their goals against the Croatians through defenders (Rabia, Abdelmonem). Against New Zealand, it took a penalty from Mostafa Mohamed to get on the scoresheet. Hossam Hassan will need to find solutions quickly to get his side back on track. Still, he did experiment tactically, starting with a 3-5-2 against New Zealand, then a 4-2-3-1 against Croatia. With Salah back for the next fixtures, he will have a player capable of tearing apart any defence...

Among the big nations to have changed coach, the one who appears to have the most work to do is Otto Addo. Under him, Ghana lost 1-2 to Nigeria, before drawing 2-2 with Uganda. The Black Stars also picked up 3 red cards across those two games, a sign of the edginess already seen at the AFCON. What is more, the Black Stars are now winless in 07 matches. Their last victory came on 17 November against Madagascar (1-0).

Read also: Friendlies: Benin's bad luck, Benzia's gem, Doué's first, the Comoros' festival...

Brama Traoré and a mediocre Burkina Faso: how the interim coaches fared

Burkina Faso also changed coach after the 2023 AFCON. Hubert Velud is out, Brama Traoré is in. However, the change has not yet taken. A worrying defeat to Libya (1-2) and a disappointing draw with Niger (1-1). That is the meagre return for the Etalons in this international window.

Two African giants have something in common: both have an interim coach. In Nigeria, legend George Finidi was on the bench, with a record of a 2-1 win over Ghana and a 0-2 defeat to Mali. On Tunisia's bench, the interim is Montasser Louhichi. He was unable to fix the attacking problems of the Eagles of Carthage, who failed to score against Croatia (0-0, lost on penalties) and against New Zealand (0-0, won on penalties) in the Winsunited Tournament. Without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gabon, led by Thiery Mouyouma, were thrashed 0-3 by Senegal before drawing 1-1 with Congo.