By Onyekachi Chimezie
Africa’s most decorated club coach Pitso Mosimane, asserted in an interview that late Nigerian national team coach Stephen Keshi accomplishments set the standard for other African managers.
The 58-year-old, who recently parted ways with Egyptian powerhouses Al Ahly after winning two consecutive CAF champions League titles and finishing third in the most recent club world cup, highlighted that Keshi’s success against foreign coaches after winning the 2013 AFCON should be used as a lesson for other African coaches, saying that he has set an example that they should follow.
“What Keshi did by beating foreign managers on his way to continental success was to break that notion of an African coach.
“He also laid the foundation for others to follow. I think his round of 16 achievement also set the tone globally,” Mosimane said via BBC Sport Africa.
For the first time in history, two local coaches have led their countries to consecutive AFCON success with Djamel Belmadi leading the desert foxes of Algeria to their third title in 2019 and Aliou Cisse winning with Senegal last edition.
“The last two winners of the Nations Cup are Africans [Djamel Belmadi of Algeria and Cisse of Senegal] which shows that most African coaches are as qualified as their foreign counterparts.”
For the first time since the World Cup’s inception, all five of Africa’s participating countries will be coached locally, barring any last-minute changes.
When the World Cup begins later this year in Qatar, Otto Addo (Ghana), Aliou Cisse (Senegal), Rigobert Song (Cameroon), Jalel Kadri (Tunisia), and Walid Regragui (Morocco) will all serve as the captains of their respective national teams.
With Pitso Mosimane viewing it as a win-win situation for the continent and aspires for local coaches to be treated fairly in the future.
“To have trust in African coaches is massive and shows a great sense of growth on the continent that must be sustained. This is not a campaign against foreign coaches but applause to the decision-makers in our national associations,” He added.
Before his exit in 2016, late Stephen Keshi served as the Head of coach of the Nigerian national team between 2011 and 2015. Guided the Super Eagles to winning their third AFCON title at the 2013 African Cup of Nations and helping the Three-time African champions to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where they advanced to the round of 16.
