African coaches are gaining roles that were formerly reserved for whites

This year’s Africa Cup of Nations included 15 African-born coaches, prompting some to believe that indigenous coaches had broken down boundaries to a level formerly reserved for Europeans.

While it is hard to say clearly, Aliou Cisse’s victory as coach of Senegal’s Lions of Teranga in this year’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) appeared to remove any concerns in the minds of thousands of Senegalese supporters who celebrated jubilantly around the country’s capital.

“He allowed us to get the cup we had been waiting for for years. We’ve none better than him,” said one of Cisse’s ecstatic fans.

Cisse is best known for being the first Senegal captain to reach the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2002 and the first Senegal manager to win the tournament in 2022 after reaching the final in 2019.

Having begun his career in France, he later played for English clubs Birmingham City and Portsmouth. Cisse was a defensive midfielder who also, on occasion, played at centre back.

Cisse has been the head coach of Senegal since 2015, having briefly taken charge of them following Amara Traore’s sacking, in a caretaker role in 2012. He was also the assistant coach of the under-23 side from 2012 to 2013, becoming head coach from 2013 to 2015.

In early March 2015, Cisse was officially appointed as the head coach for the Senegal national team.

In February 2019 Senegal’s Football Federation (FSF) extended Cisse and his staff’s contracts until August 2021.