Ten coaches compete for the Best Coach in Africa 2026 award

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the list of nominees for the Best Coach in Africa award for 2026, which includes 10 names of prominent coaches who have left their mark with national teams and clubs during the recent period, with notable Egyptian and Moroccan representation.

The list features Egyptian coaches Hossam Hassan, the head coach of the Egypt national team, and Moataz Jamal, the coach of Zamalek SC, alongside Moroccans Walid Regragui and Mohamed Wahbi, in a competition that also includes several prominent names in African football.

Hossam Hassan represents Egyptian football after leading the Pharaohs to the Round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup 2026, while Moataz Gamal's nomination is in recognition of his achievements with Zamalek, having led the team to the final of the CAF Confederation Cup, before losing the title to USM Alger on penalties.

On the Moroccan side, Walid Regragui leads the list of candidates thanks to the achievements he has made with the 'Atlas Lions', most notably reaching the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, becoming the first coach to lead an African and Arab national team to this stage, before finishing the tournament in fourth place.

Walid Regragui has successfully led Morocco to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, alongside achieving a perfect record in the African qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026, having won all eight of his matches, despite leaving his position in March.

Morocco also celebrates Mohamed Wahbi, who achieved a historic feat by leading the U-20 national team to victory in the FIFA World Cup 2025 in Chile, after defeating Argentina 2-0 in the final match, securing the global title for the first time in the history of Moroccan football.

The list of competitors also includes Lamine Ndiaye, coach of USM Alger, Umberto Betancourt, head coach of Cape Verde, Sébastien Desabre, coach of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Alexander Santos, head coach of AS FAR Rabat, alongside Senegalese Pape Thiaw, and coach of South African club Mamelodi Sundowns, Miguel Cardoso.

Hossam Hassan – Egypt national team.

Moataz Jamal – Zamalek SC.

Walid Regragui – Morocco.

Mohamed Wahbi – Morocco.

Lamine Ndiaye – USM Alger.

Umberto Pittencourt – Cape Verde national team.

Sébastien Desabre – Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Alexander Santos – AS FAR Rabat.

Bamba Thiam – Senegal national team.

Miguel Cardoso has joined Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa.

The Confederation of African Football will reveal the winner of the award during the CAF Awards 2026 ceremony, scheduled to take place on December 7 in Lagos, Nigeria.

The list of the ten nominees for the Best Coach in Africa award for 2026 is as follows: