Here are all the coaches seeking to lead their teams to the AFCON 2023 trophy in Ivory Coast.

The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d'Ivoire 2023 kicks off on Saturday, January 13, 2024, with the opening clash between the host country, Cote d'Ivoire, and Guinea-Bissau.

Group A – Jean Louis Gasset, José Peseiro, Juan Micha, Baciro Cande

The AFCON Cote d'Ivoire 2023 is set to kick off with an exciting clash between the host country, Cote d'Ivoire, and Guinea-Bissau on Saturday, January 13, 2024.

Let's take a closer look at the coaches steering the teams in Group A.

1. Côte d'Ivoire: Jean Louis Gasset (69 years)

Appointed in May 2022, Gasset aims to lead the Elephants to victory or at least the semi-finals.
The Ivorian Football Federation set clear expectations, with the contract renewal contingent on reaching these goals.
Despite being his first national team role, Gasset brings extensive coaching experience from managing French clubs.

2. Nigeria: José Peseiro (63 years)

Since May 2022, Peseiro has shouldered the responsibility of guiding the Super Eagles to a better performance than the previous edition.
With coaching experience in Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela, and managing Portuguese clubs, Peseiro aims for Nigeria's fourth continental crown.

3. Equatorial Guinea: Juan Micha (48 years)

Micha, confirmed as head coach in March 2021, led Equatorial Guinea to a quarterfinal finish in the 2021 edition.
A former Equato-Guinean footballer, Micha aims to surpass the team's 2015 performance at home, where they achieved their best-ever finish (fourth place).

4. Guinea-Bissau: Baciro Cande (57 years)

Baciro Cande, in charge since 2016, guides Guinea-Bissau to their fourth TotalEnergies CAF AFCON.
A former defender turned coach, Cande aspires to take Djurtus beyond the first round, a stage they've never surpassed in previous participations.

Group B – Rui Vitória, Chris Hughton, Bubista, Chiquinho Conde

Group B promises not just intense on-field action but also a showcase of coaching prowess. Let's turn the spotlight on the tacticians steering the teams in this competitive group.

1. Rui Vitória – Egypt

Rui Vitória, born in Portugal, is set for his first-ever AFCON as the head coach of Egypt.
With previous success at Portuguese giants Benfica, securing a domestic treble and defending the league title, Vitória brings a winning mentality to the Egyptian squad.
Despite being a newcomer to the African football scene, Vitória is poised to make an impact at the prestigious tournament.

2. Chris Hughton – Ghana

Ghana, aiming to end a four-decade-long AFCON title drought, will be led by 65-year-old English-born Chris Hughton.
Despite his rich experience in the English Premier League, this marks Hughton's first venture into the AFCON.
The former player for Tottenham, West Ham, and Brentford is determined to script history for Ghana in Côte d'Ivoire.

3. Bubista – Cape Verde

Bubista, a former player for Cape Verde with 28 national team appearances as a defender, is at the helm of the Cape Verde National team.
Leading Cape Verde since 2020, Bubista is embarking on his second AFCON, having guided the team to the Round of 16 in the previous edition.
Cape Verde faces a challenging group with past winners Ghana and Egypt.

4. Chiquinho Conde – Mozambique

Chiquinho Conde, a key figure in Mozambique football history both as a player and coach, takes charge of the Mambas.
Playing most of his career in Portugal for clubs like SC Braga and Sporting Lisbon, Conde appeared in three AFCON tournaments for Mozambique.
His appointment as head coach saw Mozambique qualify for the 2023 edition after missing the last six AFCON tournaments.

Group C – Aliou Cissé, Rigobert Song, Kaba Diawara, Tom Saintfiet

Group C stands as a focal point with a lineup of seasoned coaches ready to lead their respective nations.

Let's give you an insight into the tacticians at the helm of the teams in this challenging group based in Yamoussoukro.

1. Aliou Cissé – Senegal (47 years)

Aliou Cissé, a former Senegalese international renowned for his defensive prowess, has transitioned seamlessly from player to coach.
His history with the AFCON includes being a runner-up in 2002 as a player and securing Senegal's first title as a coach in the 2021 edition.
Cissé aims to defend the title in Côte d'Ivoire and potentially offer payback for Senegal's loss to the Ivorians in the 1992 edition.

2. Rigobert Song – Cameroon(47 years)

Rigobert Song, a key figure in Cameroon's football history with 5 titles as a player, now leads the Indomitable Lions as a coach.
The 47-year-old, who won the 2000 and 2002 editions with Cameroon, seeks to make an impact in his first coaching stint in the AFCON.

3. Kaba Diawara – Guinea (48 years)

Kaba Diawara, with a history of playing in renowned clubs, now directs the Guinean national football team in his second AFCON as a coach.
His experience with French and English clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, adds depth to his coaching approach.

4. Tom Saintfiet – Gambia (51 years)

Tom Saintfiet, a Belgian coach, boasts extensive experience leading African clubs and national teams.
Despite a brief playing career, Saintfiet's coaching journey has taken him across the African continent, guiding teams such as Malawi, Togo, and Gambia to notable achievements.

These coaches bring a wealth of experience and diverse backgrounds to Group C.

Group D – Djamel Belmadi, Hubert Velud, Amir Abdou, Pedro Gonçalves

Group D Djamel Belmadi Hubert Velud Amir Abdou Pedro Goncalves

Group D in the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Côte d'Ivoire 2023, boasts an impressive array of seasoned coaches, each aiming to guide their respective teams to success.

Let's delve into the coaching lineup of this dynamic group.

1. Djamel Belmadi – Algeria

Djamel Belmadi, a familiar face in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, leads Algeria for the third consecutive time.
The former Algerian international, with a playing history at clubs like Olympic Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain, secured Algeria's AFCON victory in 2019.
Despite a challenging group, Algeria stands as one of the favourites for the trophy in Côte d'Ivoire.

2. Hubert Velud – Burkina Faso

French-born Hubert Velud, a former goalkeeper for Stade de Reims, transitions into coaching and brings vast experience on the African continent.
Velud managed Togo in the 2010 AFCON and now leads Burkina Faso in a group they aspire to navigate successfully.
His rich background in club management includes ES Sètif, USM Algiers, and TP Mazembe.

3. Amir Abdou – Mauritania

Amir Abdou, hailing from Comoros, takes charge of the Mauritanian national team after an impressive stint with the Comoros national team.
Under Abdou's guidance, Comoros qualified for their first AFCON in Cameroon in 2021.
With Mauritania's third consecutive AFCON qualification, Abdou eyes a knockout stage berth for his team.

4. Pedro Gonçalves – Angola

Angola's national team is under the leadership of Pedro Gonçalves, born in Angola and progressing through coaching ranks with various national teams.
Gonçalves achieved success with the Angolan U-17 team, winning the Cosafa Cup and qualifying for their first U-17 FIFA World Cup in 2019.
His coaching journey continued with the U-20 and U-23 teams, culminating in his role as the head coach of the national team, securing TotalEnergies CAF AFCON qualification in 2023.

Group E – Jalel Kadri, Eric Chelle, Hugo Broos, Collin Benjamin

With 24 nations vying for the coveted football prize, Group E, hosted at Korhogo's Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly, features Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, and Namibia.

Notably, Tunisia (2004) and South Africa (1996) are former champions in the group, while Mali reached the final in 1972.

All teams in Group E, except Tunisia, are led by coaches who were former football players.

Let's take a closer look at the coaches steering their respective teams:

1. Tunisia – Jalel Kadri (52)

Jalel Kadri took charge during the AFCON 2021 after head coach Mondher Kebaier contracted Covid-19.
Despite exiting in the quarter-finals, Kadri guided Tunisia to a Round of 16 victory against Nigeria.
He secured qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and aims to leverage both experiences in Cote d'Ivoire.

2. Mali – Eric Chelle (46)

Born in Abidjan, Eric Chelle, a former defender with a successful playing career in France, will manage Mali.
Transitioning to coaching in 2016, Chelle took over as Mali's head coach in May 2022 and will lead the Eagles in his native country.

3. South Africa – Hugo Broos (71)

Guided Cameroon to AFCON title in 2017, Hugo Broos now leads South Africa, aiming for continental success.
Under Broos, South Africa has shown improvement, and he seeks to replicate his 2017 success with a blend of youth and experience.

4. Namibia – Collin Benjamin (45)

Preparing for their fourth TotalEnergies AFCON appearance, Namibia, under Collin Benjamin, eyes progression beyond the group stages.
Benjamin, one of Africa's astute coaches, looks to make history for Namibia by navigating through the group stages.

Group F – Avram Grant, Sébastien Desabre, Adel Amrouche, Walid Regragui

As the excitement builds, courtesy CAF Online delves into the coaching dynamics of Group F, featuring four teams with distinct playing styles and seasoned tacticians.

1. Avram Grant (69 years):

Noted for his time in the English Premier League, especially at Chelsea, Avram Grant now heads Zambia.
Led Ghana from 2014 to 2017, guiding the Black Stars to the AFCON final in 2015.
With a year at the helm of Zambia, Grant aims to recreate the feat of winning the AFCON, as he did with Chelsea in the 2012 UEFA Champions League.

2. Sébastien Desabre (48 years):

A well-travelled French technician, Sébastien Desabre has managed clubs across Africa, bringing his tactical prowess to various teams.
Qualified Uganda for its first AFCON in over 30 years in 2019, reaching the round of 16.
Now leading the Leopards of the DR Congo, Desabre aims to restore their reputation with his leadership skills.

3. Adel Amrouche (56 years):

A Belgian-Algerian coach with a vast coaching experience in countries like Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, and Botswana.
Participating in his first AFCON with Tanzania, Amrouche relies on a talented group of players, including star Mbwana Samatta.

4. Walid Regragui (49 years):

For his first stint as a national team coach, Walid Regragui made a significant impact by guiding Morocco to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar.
Heading into his second AFCON with Morocco, Regragui's ambition is clear: to go as far as possible and clinch the coveted trophy.

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