The recently crowned champion coach of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023, Emerse Fae, is the 11th African tactician to have successfully guided their teams to AFCON continental glory.
At the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe, a thrilling African showdown unfolded as the 40-year-old coach guided the hosts to claim their third continental title in a stunning comeback, sealing a 2-1 victory over Nigeria’s Super Eagles on February 11.
According to PUNCH Online, Fae now joins the ranks of the other 10 coaches of African descent who have triumphed in the 34th edition of Africa’s premier tournament.
Fae assumed the coaching role midway through the tournament after the dismissal of Jean-Louis Gasset.
“The contracts of coach Jean-Louis Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant are terminated due to insufficient results,” the FIF had said in a statement.
Nevertheless, the team found a glimmer of hope by qualifying as one of the third-best-placed teams in the group stages. Consequently, they staged an impressive comeback, rising to the top spot.
According to CAF Online, since the tournament’s inception in 1957, a total of 11 African coaches have claimed the title.
This figure is expected to grow in future editions, showcasing the increasing influence of talented young African coaches, both male and female, emerging from diverse regions across the continent.
Here is a full list of African coaches who have conquered and won the AFCON since its inaugural edition:
Sudan 1957: Mourad Fahmy (Egypt)
Ghana 1963: Charles Gyamfi (Ghana)
Tunisia 1965: Charles Gyamfi (Ghana)
Ghana 1978: Fred Osam Doudu (Ghana)
Libya 1982: Charles Gyamfi (Ghana)
Algeria 1990: Abdelhamid Kermali (Algeria)
Senegal 1992: Martial Yeo (Cote d’Ivoire)
South Africa 1996: Clive Barker (South Africa)
Burkina Faso 1998: Mohamed Al Gohari (Egypt)
Egypt 2006: Hassan Shehata (Egypt)
Ghana 2008: Hassan Shehata (Egypt)
Angola 2010: Hassan Shehata (Egypt)
South Africa 2013: Stephen Keshi (Nigeria)
Egypt 2019: Djamel Belmadi (Algeria)
Cameroon 2021: Aliou Cisse (Senegal)
Cote d’Ivoire 2023: Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire)
According to reports, Morocco is set to host the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025. Additionally, Fae received the Best Coach award at the tournament’s closing ceremony.