The Africa Cup of Nations is about to start, with 15 of the 24 coaches native to the country they are leading. But even as recently as a decade ago, European coaches were still preferred by the national associations.
Many European coaches have made a name for themselves in
For the most part, native coaches have been forced to settle for interim positions, often being replaced before the major competitions came around.
"We felt powerless and hurt by these choices,"
African coaches underrated
This lack of confidence in native coaches has often been explained through the prism of results. The statistics point slightly in favor of foreign coaches, but according to Magassouba this is misleading, with foreign coaches given more support and backing than their native counterparts.
"Expats have not won more competitions than native coaches. In addition, they have always had more financial help, and this has made their work easier," he said.
Of the 32 editions of the
For some observers of African football, another reason that native coaches have been overlooked in favor of foreigners is a lack of ambition. Malian journalist
"Native coaches in general are not respected," he told DW. "Even when they have the required skills and the same qualifications as Europeans, they don't take their opportunities when they get them."
Coached by Magassouba,
His vast experience includes coaching Daring Club Motema Pembe during the 1990s, one of the most successful periods in the Congolese club's history. As
"Since I took over, we have changed the mentality of the players based on the spirit," he explained. "Then, we focused on how our players are developed to establish how we want to play."
Native coaches are, in his opinion, the most qualified to understand how African players think and what they need to perform, and
'Through our mistakes ... we will understand better'
The new policy of developing young coaches on the continent is a perfect example of this approach.
According to Pascal Yougbare, technical director of the
African football officials and coaches finally seem to have found a way to work together, and Magassouba believes the results will come. However, he has pleaded for African coaches to have the right to learn from their mistakes.
"Let us make mistakes," he urged. "Through our mistakes, we will be able to correct them, we will understand better, and we will be able to progress instead of relying on expats."
For the moment, these choices seem to be benefiting
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