The Democratic Republic of Congo completed the 10 African slots FIFA promised after beating Cameroon and Nigeria in the African playoff. A competitive
The Democratic Republic of Congo completed the 10 African slots FIFA promised after beating Cameroon and Nigeria in the African playoff. A competitive fixture against Jamaica in Mexico followed, where they won 1-0.
Here, Kapital Sports takes you through all 10 coaches set to manage the teams.
1. Algeria
Name: Vladmir Petkovic
Nationality: Bosnian
Place of Birth: Sarajevo (Yugoslavia)
Age: 62
Preferred formation: 4-4-2
Algeria became so ordinary under Djamel Belmadi after winning the 2019 AFCON title in Egypt. The Fennecs failed to win a single game in the 2021 and 2023 AFCONs under Djamel. Algeria was calamitously defeated by Cameroon in the play-offs of the 2022 World Cup, prompting fans to lose trust and confidence in their former defender’s leadership.
Petkovic had a great time after spending seven years with the Switzerland national team, leading the Red Crosses to three major tournaments, reaching the round of 16 and the quarter-finals of the 2016 and 2020 European Championships, respectively. Also, Petkovic took Switzerland to the round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup. When Algeria needed someone for total rebuilding after sacking Belmadi, they chose the Bosnian, who instantly took them to the AFCON 2025 quarter finals and also qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2014. Algeria will hope they can repeat the 2014 feat in Brazil in the USA-Canada and Mexico 2026, where they dazzled, with Petkovic in charge now. Algeria will face Argentina, Jordan and Austria in Group J. His experience at major tournaments will be key to Algeria’s stay in North America.
2. Cape Verde
Name: Pedro Leitao Brito
Nationality: Cape Verdean
Place of Birth: Boa Vista (Cape Verde)
Age: 56
Preferred Formation: 4-2-3-1
Bubista is the Cape Verdean football Adonis. The man is simply phenomenal after defying all odds and taking the minnows to the pinnacle of world football. When Cape Verde defeated Cameroon in matchday 8 of the qualifiers, the football world decided to take them seriously because they needed to avoid defeat at Libya and beat Eswatini to push Cameroon out of the race. They expertly drew 3-3 in North Africa and tore Eswatini into pieces (3-0) on the last matchday. Bubista’s tactical nous has been incredible since he was confirmed as the head coach of the Blue Sharks in 2020 after two different stints as assistant coach of Cape Verde between 2007-2013 and 2016-2017. His team showed many glimpses in the 2023 AFCON, where they defeated Ghana 2-1, pulverised Mozambique 3-0 and drew 2-2 with Egypt in the group stage to progress to the knockout stage. It was a warning to opponents in the near future, but Cameroon did not take keen notice. Cape Verde will enter an uncharted territory, and Bubista and his boys must quadruple their efforts to stand any chance of causing an upset against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in Group H.
3. Côte d’Ivoire
Name: Emerse Fae
Nationality: Ivorian
Place of Birth: Nantes (France)
Age: 42
Preferred Formation: 4-3-3
Emerse Fae made history when he replaced Jean-Louis Gasset in the middle of the 2023 AFCON. Ivory Coast rose from the canvas under the young manager and won, shockingly, the tournament. Faes heroics earned him CAF Coach of the Year 2024 and the permanent role to lead the Elephants to the 2025 AFCON, but failed to defend the trophy. Emerse Fae qualified Ivory Coast for the World Cup and will become the first Ivorian to lead the national team to the tournament after Henri Michel, Sven Goran Eriksen, and Sabri Lamouchi led them to the 2006, 2010 and 2014 competitions respectively. Expectations are high as fans expect Fae to lead this talented generation to reach the knockout stage for the first time, having failed in the three World Cups they have competed in. The Ivorians will face Germany, Ecuador and Curacao in Group E, where they will eye one of the top two slots under the youngest coach managing an African side in the tournament.
4. D.R. Congo
Name: Sebastien Desabre
Nationality: French
Place of Birth: Valence (France)
Age: 49
Preferred Formation: 4-4-1-1
D.R Congo must bury the ghost of West Germany’s 1974 World Cup, where they were embarrassed in Group 2 in the first group stage. They were called Zaire then, where Scotland won 2-0 in the opening game in Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion. Yugoslavia at the Pakstadion in Gelsenkirchen broke Zaire into pieces by beating them 9-0. Brazil in Frankfurt finished Zaire 3-0 to complete the Leopards’ disastrous campaign. The new generation under Desabre in 52 years will play at the World Cup. Sebastien Desabre has been in Africa since 2010, when Asec Mimosas appointed him as the head coach. He has managed clubs like Coton Sport, Esperance, Recreativo do Libodo, JS Saoura, Wydad Casablanca, Ismaily and Pyramids. Desabre has managed only ES Cannet-Rocheville and Chamois Niortais in France. His first international job came when Uganda appointed him as the main head coach between 2017 and 2019. Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan are the opponents for Sebastien Desabre’s Congo for the World Cup. Confidence is high under Desabre, will Congo deliver?
5. Egypt
Name: Hossam Hassan
Nationality: Egyptian
Place of Birth: Helwan (Egypt)
Age: 59
Preferred Formation: 4-3-3
Arguably, Hossam Hassan, Mohamed Aboutrika and Mohamed Salah are Egypt’s greatest footballers in the last 30 years. Hossam Hassan was a great footballer for club and country, and Egypt will hope he will be a great coach as well, having already proven it by finishing 4th in the 2025 AFCON. Hassan took over from Rui Vitoria, who struggled with the Pharaohs. The decision to appoint the former striker is paying off, and Egypt will be expecting Hassan to take them to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time. Having competed in the 1990 World Cup, Hossam started and completed all three group games against the Netherlands, Ireland and England. The former Al Ahly and Zamalek star understands all the nitty-gritty of Egyptian football after spending 21 years as a professional footballer for clubs like Al Ahly, Zamalek, Al Masry, Tersana and Al Ittihad Alexandria. In 18 years as a professional coach, Hossam Hassan has coached 17 Egyptian clubs. His only job outside the Mother of the World was when he was appointed as the head coach of Jordan in 2013-2014. Belgium, Iran and New Zealand are Egypt’s opponents in the World Cup.
6. Ghana
Name: Carlos Queiroz
Nationality: Portuguese
Place of Birth: Angoche (Mozambique)
Age: 73
Preferred formation:
After a couple of weeks’ search for a new coach to lead Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the GFA finally confirmed veteran Portuguese tactician Carlos Queiroz as the man to replace Otto Addo. Otto Addo was sacked after the 2-1 defeat in Stuttgart against Germany during the March International break. Ghana had already been smashed 5-1 by Austria, so the former midfielder was under fire. After receiving over 600 applications for the vacant head role position, according to the GFA’s president, they finally settled on the vast experience of Carlos Queiroz. The Portuguese will compete in his fifth World Cup as head coach, having taken Portugal to the tournament in 2010, and Iran to 2014, 2018 and 2022. The coach boasts an incredible CV, having managed Real Madrid and served as the assistant head coach for the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in two stints in a combined five years. Colombia, Oman, South Africa, Egypt and Qatar are the other national teams he has served as a head coach. Ghana will meet Panama, England and Croatia in Group L of the much-anticipated World Cup. Queiroz has signed a four-month deal for Ghana with an option for a further two years only if he can reach the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup.
7. Morocco
Name: Mohamed Ouahbi
Nationality: Moroccan/Belgian
Place of Birth: Schaarbeek (Belgium)
Age: 49
Preferred Formation: 4-2-3-1
The decision to part ways with Walid Regragui is still unacceptable in my opinion. Nevertheless, life still goes on. Regragui took the Atlas Lions to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He is now an AFCON champion after CAF unbelievably declared Morocco as champions of the 2025 AFCON. This is the legacy Ouabhi will have to emulate. The Belgian-born tactician in 2024 won UNAF U-20, was a runner-up in Cairo, where South Africa won 1-0 against Morocco in the AFCON U20 championship, before proceeding to conquer the world in the Chile U20 World Cup. Ouabhi is highly rated among the politburos of Moroccan football because of his insight into football tactics. Mohamed Ouahbi was born in Belgium to Moroccan parents. The 49-year-old has been in coaching since 1997, having started from scratch to reach this level. After managing Anderlecht youth between 2003 and 2014, he was promoted to the U21 managerial role from 2014 to 2015. Ouahbi became the assistant coach of Anderlecht in the 2015-16 season, where he later returned to the youth coaching role between 2016 and 2021. The task ahead is humongous, and Ouabhi is aware. Morocco will face Scotland, Brazil and Haiti in Group C.
8. Senegal
Name: Pape Bouna Thiaw
Nationality: Senegalese
Place of Birth: Dakar (Senegal)
Age: 45
Preferred Formation: 4-3-3
The 45-year-old is in his eighth year as a head coach and has already won international trophies. Thiaw led Senegal A to the 2022 African Nations Championship, where they defeated host nation Algeria on penalties at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers. It was the beginning of something special for Thiaw and Seengal.
When Senegal parted ways with the marvellous Aliou Cisse in December 2024, the Senegalese Football Association decided against hiring a foreign coach and subsequently appointed the former Niarry Tally’s gaffer. Bouna Thiaw was officially confirmed as the man for the hot seat on 13th December 2024 and has since won the AFCON trophy (now given to Morocco) and qualified the Lions of Teranga to the World Cup. Tactically, Thiaw has proven to be up there with the top coaches, looking at how Senegal defeated England 3-1 in an international friendly at the City Ground. In the 2-0 defeat to Brazil at the Emirates Stadium, Senegal was scintillating, where Thiaw got much credit from the football world. Senegal will meet France, Norway and Iraq in Group I of the World Cup.
9. South Africa
Name: Hugo Broos
Nationality: Belgian
Place of Birth: Humbeek (Belgium)
Age: 74
Preferred Formation: 4-3-3
Hugo Broos is the oldest among all the 10 coaches leading African sides in the 2026 World Cup. Broos, 74, after spending two decades as a coach in Belgium, decided to test himself abroad, where he was appointed the head coach of Greek club Panserraikos in 2008. After a season, he signed for Turkish side Trabzonspor, where he returned home to Zulte Waregem. Then a trip to Africa, where he has not returned home, followed in 2014 after resting for three years since leaving Zulte Waregem. The former Belgium defender, who competed in the 1986 World Cup as the oldest of the Belgian squad, under Guy Thys’ leadership’s first job in Africa was in Algeria, where he was appointed the coach of JS Kabylie. He left for Hussein Dey a season later before being snatched by Cameroon, where he won the 2017 AFCON. A short stint in Belgium with Oostende followed before he was signed by Bafana Bafana in 2021. He took South Africa to a third-place finish at the 2023 AFCON and also qualified Bafana Bafana for the 2026 World Cup. Broos is well respected in South Africa, having become the first coach since 2002 to qualify the team to the pinnacle of world football. It is on record that he is the first coach to record a win in the rebranded UEFA Champions League in November 1992, where Amokachi’s sole strike helped Club Brugge beat CSKA Moscow in the first game of the group stage. Hugo Broos, in his first World Cup as a coach, will play against the Czech Republic, Mexico and South Korea in Group A.
10. Tunisia
Name: Sabri Lamouchi
Nationality: France/Tunisia
Place of Birth: Lyon (France)
Age: 54
Preferred Formation: 4-3-3
The French-born got his second international managerial job when he was appointed as the replacement for Sami Trabelsi, whose performance for Tunisia in Morocco 2025 was below the standard required. Lamouchi will get the opportunity to coach at the World Cup once again after leading the Ivory Coast in the 2014 World Cup. Ivory Coast under him was once ranked 23rd during his reign, which was the highest-ranked African side in the world. The Ivory Coast job was his first ever, yet he delivered by qualifying the Elephants to their third World Cup. Born to Tunisian parents in Lyon, Lamouchi played for France but has always professed his love for his parents’ homeland. Tunisia are not psychologically well due to constant changes of coaches, but with Lamouchi, anything can happen. The 54-year-old has gained much experience in club football, having coached Rennes, Nottingham Forest, Al-Duhail, El Jaish, Cardiff City, Al-Riyadh, and Al-Diriyah. Tunisia has an arduous task ahead, where they will face Sweden, the Netherlands, and Japan in Group F. Will Lamouchi make history by qualifying Tunisia for the knockout stage?
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