A wave of early coaching changes has hit African football ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with three of the nine already-qualified nations reportedly parting ways with their head coaches.
The developments underline growing pressure and high expectations as teams begin final preparations for the global tournament.
Among the nations affected, Tunisia, Morocco, and Ghana have all made changes in the dugout:
Tunisia have reportedly sacked head coach Sami Trabelsi
Morocco have parted ways with Walid Regragui
Ghana have dismissed Otto Addo
While the decisions differ in context, they all reflect a broader trend of rising scrutiny on national team performances, even after successful qualification campaigns.
In Tunisia and Morocco, expectations remain high for deep World Cup runs, while Ghana’s situation follows a turbulent period marked by inconsistency and pressure on the technical team.
The coaching changes are expected to trigger swift searches for replacements, as federations look to stabilise their squads ahead of the final build-up to the tournament.
With less than a year to go, African representatives at the World Cup are already entering a decisive phase—both on and off the pitch—as leadership changes signal intent to reset ambitions and improve competitiveness on the global stage.
