Africa will have a record 10 nations competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the tournament set to unfold across the United States, Canada and Mexico beginning on June 11.
As the continent prepares for its biggest-ever representation on football’s grandest stage, attention will not only be on the players but also on the tacticians entrusted with guiding their nations through the competition.
From seasoned veterans with decades of experience to emerging coaches enjoying remarkable rises, these are the men leading Africa’s challenge at the World Cup.
Hossam Hassan (Egypt)
Hossam Hassan took charge of Egypt’s national team in February 2024 following the departure of Rui Vitória after the Pharaohs’ underwhelming AFCON campaign.
Under his leadership, Egypt reached the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations before being knocked out by Senegal. He works alongside his twin brother, Ibrahim Hassan, who serves as his assistant.
Widely regarded as one of Egypt’s most iconic football figures, Hassan enjoyed a distinguished playing career with clubs such as Al Ahly and Zamalek. He also represented Egypt at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and remains one of the country’s most celebrated former internationals.
Our legend 🇪🇬
We are delighted to announce that Hossam Hassan is the new head coach#egyptnt pic.twitter.com/PXJ8t5x8JD— Egypt National Team (@EgyptNT_EN) February 7, 2024
The 57-year-old has accumulated extensive coaching experience, having managed several clubs including Zamalek, Ismaily SC, Pyramids FC, Al Ittihad Alexandria and Al Masry SC. He also spent a year in charge of the Jordan national football team between 2013 and 2014.
Hassan successfully guided the Pharaohs through the World Cup qualifiers without suffering a defeat, topping a group featuring Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia and Djibouti.
Egypt have appeared at the World Cup on three previous occasions, in 1934, 1990 and 2018. With the nation still searching for its first-ever victory at the tournament, Hassan will be eager to break new ground when Egypt face Belgium, Iran and New Zealand in Group G at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Sébastien Desabre – DR Congo
When Sébastien Desabre arrived in Kinshasa in August 2022, the mood around DR Congo was far from optimistic.
The Frenchman inherited a Leopards side reeling from a disastrous start to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, a run that ultimately cost Argentine coach Héctor Cúper his job.
Desabre quickly transformed the team’s fortunes. Under his stewardship, DR Congo recovered to secure qualification for AFCON 2023 as group winners before producing an impressive run to the semi-finals in Ivory Coast, eventually finishing fourth.
The momentum continued as the Leopards also booked a place at AFCON 2025, though their campaign ended in the Round of 16 against Algeria.
𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐒 𝐋𝐄́𝐎𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒 🐆]
Les premiers mondialistes 🇨🇩 arrivent progressivement au rassemblement à Bruxelles 🇧🇪. #RDC #RDCongo ✈️ pic.twitter.com/jxlEYRgHKN
— Compte Officiel de Léopards (@fecofa_kinshasa) May 26, 2026
His greatest accomplishment, however, arrived on the road to the World Cup. Desabre masterminded a historic qualification campaign that saw DR Congo return to football’s biggest tournament for the first time in more than half a century.
The former Uganda Cranes boss guided the Congolese past continental heavyweights Nigeria and Cameroon during the African playoffs before overcoming Jamaica in the intercontinental playoffs, ending a 52-year absence from the World Cup since the nation’s lone appearance as Zaire in 1974.
Emerse Faé – Ivory Coast
Few coaching stories in African football can rival the remarkable rise of Emerse Faé.
The former Ivory Coast midfielder stepped into the spotlight during the 2023 AFCON under extraordinary circumstances after Jean-Louis Gasset departed following a disastrous group-stage campaign.
The hosts suffered two defeats, including a humiliating 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea, and only squeezed into the knockout rounds as the last of the four best third-placed teams.
What followed became one of the greatest turnarounds in tournament history.
Faé inspired the Elephants to eliminate defending champions Senegal via penalties before orchestrating a dramatic comeback victory over Mali despite being reduced to 10 men.
🔴 ZOOOOO !!! LES ÉLÉPHANTS ONT MIS DANS SAPE ENCORE 👏🏾
La photo officielle avant de s’envoler pour les States 🇺🇸. pic.twitter.com/88GZzj5K8I
— CIV FOOT (@football_civ) June 6, 2026
The fairytale culminated with Ivory Coast lifting the AFCON trophy on home soil.
Rewarded with a permanent appointment in February 2024, Faé now faces another historic challenge. Having represented Ivory Coast at the 2006 World Cup as a player, he will attempt to guide the West Africans beyond the group stage for the first time.
Drawn in Group E, the Elephants will face Ecuador, Germany and Curaçao.
Mohamed Ouahbi – Morocco
Morocco’s decision to hand Mohamed Ouahbi the reins just months before the World Cup was among the continent’s most surprising coaching changes.
The Moroccan-Belgian tactician succeeded Walid Regragui in March 2026, taking over from the man who guided the Atlas Lions to a groundbreaking semi-final finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Ouahbi’s promotion came after years of exceptional work within Morocco’s youth structures.
Born in Brussels, he launched his coaching journey at just 21 years old with Maccabi Brussels before progressing through the youth ranks at Anderlecht. He later served as assistant coach of Anderlecht’s senior side during the 2015-16 campaign.
الصورة الرسمية لبعثة منتخبنا الوطني المتوجهة إلى الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية للمشاركة في كأس العالم 2026 🇲🇦🌍
Official team photo of our National Team delegation heading to the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026 🤩🦁#DimaMaghrib pic.twitter.com/cIpQuvnfiv
— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) June 3, 2026
His reputation soared after taking charge of Morocco’s U-20 team in 2022. He led the side to the 2024 UNAF U-20 Championship and a runners-up finish at the 2025 U-20 AFCON before achieving something unprecedented.
Under Ouahbi, Morocco captured their first-ever FIFA U-20 World Cup title in Chile, overcoming the USA, France and Argentina en route to glory.
Following a brief spell with the U-23 side, he was elevated to the senior national team and now carries the responsibility of leading Morocco in Group B against Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.
Pape Thiaw – Senegal
Pape Thiaw’s appointment as Senegal head coach marked the beginning of a new era for the Lions of Teranga.
Officially confirmed in the role in December 2024, Thiaw succeeded Aliou Cissé after impressing during an interim spell.
The former striker is no stranger to Senegalese football history. He was part of the legendary squad that stunned the world at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, reaching the quarter-finals alongside then-captain Cissé.
— Football Senegal (@FootballSenegal) May 31, 2026
His coaching credentials were strengthened after steering Senegal to the African Nations Championship title in 2022 before transitioning into the senior setup.
Now permanently in charge, Thiaw has successfully overseen Senegal’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup and will seek to replicate the achievements of the famous 2002 generation.
Senegal face a demanding Group I assignment against France, Norway and Iraq.
Carlos Queiroz – Ghana
Ghana turned to one of football’s most experienced managers when they appointed Carlos Queiroz in April 2026.
The Portuguese coach replaced Otto Addo on a short-term deal despite the latter having successfully secured qualification for the tournament.
Queiroz arrives with one of the most extensive résumés in international football. His career has included spells with Portugal, Iran, Egypt, Colombia, South Africa and Japan, while he also served as Sir Alex Ferguson’s trusted assistant at Manchester United and later managed Real Madrid.
✈️ En route to America 🇺🇸
🚏 Next stop: FIFA World Cup 🌍#BlackStars | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/jWJSmPMgmK— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) June 3, 2026
The Black Stars are preparing for their fifth World Cup appearance, having previously competed in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022.
Their greatest achievement remains the memorable run to the quarter-finals in South Africa in 2010.
Queiroz now faces the challenge of navigating a difficult Group L featuring Panama, England and Croatia.
Sabri Lamouchi – Tunisia
Tunisia’s hopes of making a significant impact at the 2026 World Cup rest in the hands of Sabri Lamouchi.
The former France international brings extensive experience from both club and international football, having coached Ivory Coast at the 2014 World Cup before embarking on managerial spells across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
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Known for his tactical discipline and organisational structure, Lamouchi has been tasked with ensuring the Carthage Eagles remain competitive against some of the world’s elite nations.
His ability to maximise collective strength over individual brilliance could prove vital as Tunisia seek to improve on previous World Cup campaigns.
Vladimir Petković – Algeria
Algeria entrusted Vladimir Petković with rebuilding the national team following Djamel Belmadi’s departure after the disappointing 2023 AFCON campaign.
The Bosnian coach took charge in February 2024 and immediately began reshaping the Desert Foxes.
At AFCON 2025, Algeria advanced to the quarter-finals before eventually bowing out to Nigeria.
Petković is perhaps best remembered for his successful seven-year tenure with Switzerland, highlighted by an impressive run to the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2020 and a dramatic victory over France in the Round of 16.
من مركز سيدي موسى.. التحضير للمونديال يتواصل 🇩🇿#LesVerts⭐⭐ | #123vivalAlgérie🇩🇿 pic.twitter.com/k7WPQxDSrJ
— Équipe d’Algérie de football (@LesVerts) May 26, 2026
His club coaching career has included notable spells with Lazio and Bordeaux.
As a player, he featured for Sarajevo, Sion and Bellinzona.
Algeria, six-time World Cup participants, will be aiming to match or surpass their best-ever finish, achieved in 2014 when they reached the Round of 16 before narrowly losing to Germany.
Hugo Broos – South Africa
Since arriving in 2021, Hugo Broos has overseen a remarkable revival of South African football.
The Belgian coach inherited a struggling Bafana Bafana side and quickly restored competitiveness on the continental stage.
Under his guidance, South Africa qualified for both AFCON 2023 and AFCON 2025. The team secured a semi-final finish in the former before reaching the knockout rounds again two years later.
Broos also masterminded a successful World Cup qualifying campaign, with South Africa finishing top of a group containing Nigeria, Benin, Lesotho, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
High altitude, higher ambitions. ⛰️⚽ Bafana Bafana’s training sessions in Pachuca have begun! We’re putting in the heavy work in Mexico. We are focussed and determined. Drop a 🇿🇦 in the comments if you’re behind the boys! 💚💛
#BafanaPride@adidasfootball @adidasza @rexona_sa… pic.twitter.com/yy6LiWDfFB
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) June 3, 2026
The veteran tactician enjoyed a distinguished playing career with Anderlecht and Club Brugge and represented Belgium at the 1986 World Cup.
His greatest coaching achievement came in 2017 when he guided Cameroon to AFCON glory.
South Africa will open their World Cup campaign against Mexico before taking on South Korea and the Czech Republic.
Pedro “Bubista” Brito – Cape Verde
Pedro Brito, widely known as Bubista, has become one of African football’s most inspiring success stories.
Appointed in January 2020, the former Cape Verde captain has overseen a period of unprecedented growth for the island nation.
Under his leadership, the Blue Sharks achieved several milestones, including a memorable quarter-final appearance at AFCON 2023 and, most significantly, qualification for their first-ever FIFA World Cup.
His impact was recognised in 2025 when he was named CAF Men’s Coach of the Year.
Before entering management, Bubista enjoyed a lengthy playing career across Portugal, Angola and Spain while captaining the Cape Verde national team.
Pedro Leitão Brito, o nosso Bubista é o melhor treinador africano 2025https://t.co/UZCpdeWnj1#CaboVerde | #TubarõesAzuis | #Bubista | #CAFAwards2025 pic.twitter.com/8XnnEUXfBf
— Federação Cabo-verdiana de Futebol (@fcfcomunica) November 19, 2025
He later built his coaching reputation domestically with clubs such as Mindelense, Académica do Mindelo, Sporting Praia and Batuque.
Cape Verde secured their historic World Cup berth after topping a qualifying group that featured Cameroon, Libya, Angola, Mauritius and Eswatini.
The Blue Sharks now prepare for a daunting Group H challenge against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia as they embark on their maiden World Cup adventure.
