Senegalese coach Lamine N’Diaye is among 10 nominees for the 2026 African Coach of the Year award after guiding Algeria’s USM Alger to a domestic and continental double during the 2025-2026 season.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled its shortlist for the men’s Best Coach category, featuring four coaches recognised for their achievements at club level and six who have managed national teams during the period under consideration.
N’Diaye is joined on the list by Senegal’s Pape Thiaw, Morocco’s Walid Regragui, DR Congo’s Sébastien Desabre and seven other coaches who have enjoyed notable campaigns with their respective teams.
The shortlist reflects a year of significant achievements across African football, including continental club titles, Africa Cup of Nations success and historic World Cup qualifications.
N’Diaye enjoyed a particularly successful campaign with USM Alger, leading the Algerian club to the Algerian Cup before adding the CAF Confederation Cup.
USM Alger secured the continental title after defeating Egyptian side Zamalek in a penalty shootout, giving the Senegalese tactician another major African trophy.
The achievement adds to his previous success in the CAF Champions League, which he won with DR Congo’s TP Mazembe in 2010.
South African club Mamelodi Sundowns are also represented through their coach Miguel Cardoso, who guided the team to their second CAF Champions League title.
Sundowns defeated Morocco’s AS FAR 2-1 in the final, having dominated the contest to secure the trophy after losing at the same stage in the previous edition.
Egyptian coach Moatamed Gamal earned his place among the nominees after taking charge of Zamalek midway through the season.
He guided the club to the Egyptian Premier League title and the final of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Portuguese coach Alexandre Santos also features following his work with AS FAR, whom he led to the CAF Champions League final.
National team achievements account for much of the remaining nominations, with several coaches recognised for their performances at major international competitions.
Senegal’s Pape Thiaw is among the leading names after guiding the Teranga Lions to the Africa Cup of Nations title in January 2026. Senegal subsequently reached the round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan is also shortlisted after leading the Pharaohs to the round of 16 at the World Cup, their best-ever run in the competition.
Cape Verde’s Pedro Leitão Brito, popularly known as Bubista, earned recognition for guiding the island nation to its first-ever World Cup qualification. The team went on to reach the round of 32.
Sébastien Desabre completes the list of notable national team achievements after leading DR Congo back to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years.
Their campaign ended with elimination by England at the round-of-32 stage.
Morocco’s Mohamed Ouahbi and former national team coach Walid Regragui are also among the 10 nominees.
The complete shortlist comprises Lamine N’Diaye of USM Alger, Pedro Leitão Brito “Bubista” of Cape Verde, Sébastien Desabre of DR Congo, Hossam Hassan of Egypt, Moatamed Gamal of Zamalek, Alexandre Santos of AS FAR, Mohamed Ouahbi of Morocco, Walid Regragui, formerly of Morocco, Pape Thiaw, formerly of Senegal, and Miguel Cardoso of Mamelodi Sundowns.
CAF has not ranked the nominees, meaning no coach has been given an advantage in the race for the award.
The winner will be announced at the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony on 7 December in Lagos, Nigeria.
