For the 17th time in the history of the Africa Cup of nations, a non-African coach will lift the AFCON title.
This is after Senegal and DR Congo, the only two teams in the quarter finals that had African coaches were eliminated on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Former Senegal captain, Aliou Cisse saw his Terranga Lions fall to Hugo Broos coached Indomitable Lions of Cameroon while DR Congo’s Florent Ibenge was eliminated by Israelite, Avram Grant who coaches the Black Stars of Ghana.
Of the four semi-finalists, only Hector Cuper (Argentina) hails outside Europe as the other semi-finalists, Paul Duarte (Burkina Faso) is a national of Portugal.
All in all, there were only four African coaches in Gabon for the 31st edition of the Total Africa Cup of Nations with Guinea Bissau (Baciro Cande) and Callisto Pasuwa (Zimbabwe) eliminated at the group stages.
Overall, 14 titles out of the previous 30 editions have been won by Africans with foreign based boosting of two more titles.
The last African coach to achieve the feat was the Late Stephen Keshi (RIP) who guided the Nigeria Super Eagles to the crown in 2013.
The semi-finalists
Burkina Faso – Paul Duarte (Portugal)
Egypt – Hector Cuper (Argentina)
Ghana – Avram Grant (Israel)
Cameroon – Hugo Broos (Belgium)
