Walid Regragui and Pape Thiaw are among the 10 nominees for the 2026 CAF Awards’ African Coach of the Year prize, but neither appears to be the leading contender.
Nine months after the turbulent Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final, the Morocco and Senegal managers have been placed on the same shortlist once again. Their nominations extend a rivalry that remains unresolved after the final in Rabat.
Senegal won the match 1-0 on the pitch, but CAF later sanctioned the Lions and awarded the trophy to Morocco. The dispute is not yet over, with Senegal’s appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport still awaiting a decision. That continuing case could ultimately work against both coaches.
Regragui’s nomination is supported by Morocco’s run to the Africa Cup of Nations final. However, he did not remain in charge for the whole of the year, leaving his position before the World Cup. His inclusion therefore recognises a continental campaign that ended in a tense and controversial atmosphere.
The former Morocco manager had also strongly criticised Thiaw following the final.
Thiaw’s case is similarly mixed. He led Senegal to victory on the field in Rabat, but the temporary withdrawal of his players, the disciplinary consequences that followed and the team’s last-16 exit at the World Cup weakened his overall record. He has since been replaced by Patrick Vieira.
Both candidates face competition from coaches who won clear honours during the year.
Cardoso leads the club coaches
Miguel Cardoso may be the strongest candidate. The Portuguese coach guided Mamelodi Sundowns to their second African Champions League title, beating Alexandre Santos’ AS FAR in the final.
Lamine N’Diaye also has a compelling claim. The Senegalese coach took charge of USM Alger during the campaign and led the club to victory in the CAF Confederation Cup before adding the Algerian Cup. That double, combined with his experience, makes him Cardoso’s main challenger.
Mohamed Ouahbi is the second Moroccan representative on the shortlist. After leading Morocco to the 2025 Under-20 World Cup title, he took over the senior side and guided the Atlas Lions to the World Cup quarter-finals.
The nominations also recognise the progress made by Sebastien Desabre with DR Congo, Bubista with Cape Verde and Hossam Hassan with Egypt in their efforts towards the 2026 World Cup. They could also challenge for the award if there is an upset.
Regragui and Thiaw are likely to attract the most attention because of the unresolved Africa Cup of Nations controversy. However, the prize could instead go to a coach who secured an undisputed title in African club football.
