Coach James Kwesi Appiah argues that Morocco’s performance at the 2022 World Cup proves that African coaches are often underestimated.
By guiding the Atlas Lions of Morocco, Regragui achieved something groundbreaking—taking the team to the World Cup semifinals in Qatar, a feat no other African team has accomplished. This milestone showcased Africa’s potential in producing home-grown coaches.
For the first time ever, locals were in charge of coaching all five African teams during the World Cup. Appiah, who currently coaches Sudan’s national team, highlighted that Regragui’s achievements demonstrate the potential of African coaches at the highest level.
“When Sudan called on my services, I felt really honored, as it shows that African teams believe in the expertise of their coaches,” Appiah said. “During the last World Cup, all CAF teams had African coaches at the helm. They’ve shown the world, in the shape of Walid Regragui and Morocco, that they can perform when given the opportunity. African coaches have proven themselves when they’ve been afforded the chance.”
Appiah’s leadership in Sudan has had a significant impact. The Falcons of Jediane are currently leading Group B in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The 63-year-old strategist is getting ready to guide Sudan in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers starting next month.