Africa’s WCQ- As Africa’s quest for World Cup glory resumes, a wave of managerial changes has swept the continent. Fresh tactics and philosophies are being injected into the high-stakes battle for coveted spots in the 2026 tournament which is set to take place in North America.
The focus isn’t just on the players, but also on the new leaders on the touchline. Several teams will debut new coaches on Wednesday for Matchdays 3 and 4, all hoping to solidify their paths towards qualification.
The coaching shakeup features a mix of seasoned veterans and promising talents eager to make their mark. Let’s take a look at some key changes by group:
Group A: Egypt, under the helm of respected figure Hossam Hassan, aims to return to prominence after parting ways with Rui Vitoria. Burkina Faso hopes to maintain their strong start with Brama Traore replacing Hubert Velud. Guinea-Bissau welcomes former Fulham assistant Luis Boa Morte to elevate their performance.
Group C: Nigeria takes a bold step by appointing legendary player Finidi George as head coach to boost their World Cup hopes. Zimbabwe navigates a tough group with interim coach Jairos Tapera.
Group F: Reigning AFCON champions Côte d’Ivoire seek to continue their perfect run under permanent manager Emerse Fae, whose turnaround has instilled confidence. Kenya and Gabon face a tougher challenge with Côte d’Ivoire’s resurgence.
Group I: Ghana welcomes back Otto Addo, hoping his experience and knowledge of the team will improve on their mixed start.
Other Notable Changes and Upcoming Matches
Group E also sees coaching changes with Ezzaki Badou leading Niger and Hemed Suleiman taking over as Tanzania’s interim coach. Both face challenges keeping their teams competitive.
With exciting fixtures like Côte d’Ivoire vs. Gabon and Nigeria vs. South Africa on the horizon, the next round of qualifiers promises high drama. African nations eagerly await the impact of these new coaching appointments on their World Cup dreams.
Storyline source: CAF
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