New Coaches Take Center Stage as Road to Afcon 2027 Kicks Off

The road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations begins this week with a wave of new managers taking charge. Patrick Vieira, Herve Renard and Pitso Mosimane are among the high-profile appointments as 48 nations compete for a place in the expanded 24-team finals to be held in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. With the three hosts already qualified, only one spot remains in their groups, intensifying the battle for second place.

Renard returns to Ivory Coast after 11 years, aiming to replicate his previous Afcon success. He faces a tough opener against Ghana, coached by the experienced Carlos Queiroz. Vieira, a World Cup winner with France in 1998, fulfills a lifelong dream by managing Senegal, though he must navigate two away matches due to Dakar's preparations for the 2026 Youth Olympics. Mosimane is back for a second spell with South Africa after 14 years.

Other notable changes include Claude Le Roy, 78, returning to Congo-Brazzaville for a record 10th Afcon appearance, and Amir Abdou taking over Burkina Faso. Cape Verde, who impressed at the 2026 World Cup, have promoted Humberto Bettencourt after Bubista's resignation. Algeria and Tunisia have also made switches, with Brahim Hemdani and Moin Chaaban respectively.

The first two rounds of qualifiers will be played this international window, with further matches in November and March. With so many new faces in the dugout, the early fixtures promise intrigue and high stakes as teams jostle for position on the road to East Africa.