Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially enforced new coaching requirements for national teams and club competitions across the continent a move expected to transform coaching standards and align Africa with global football norms.
Under the updated rules, head coaches and assistants participating in CAF-sanctioned competitions must now hold either a CAF A Licence or CAF Pro Licence (or an equivalent from other confederations). This applies to high-profile tournaments such as:
AFCON (Men’s and Women’s – Qualifiers & Final Phase)
CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup
CHAN
CAF Super Cup
Men’s U17, U20, U23 AFCON
Women’s U17 and U20 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
CAF Women’s Champions League
Women’s Youth Club Competitions, if applicable
Grace Period and Strict Penalties
CAF has given a grace period until the end of the 2026/2027 season to coaches hired before May 4, 2025, allowing them time to obtain the required qualifications. However, newly appointed coaches must already meet the licensing standards.
Any coach who fails to comply will face strict consequences, including:
Denial of access to Zones 1 and 2 of stadiums during CAF matches
Ineligibility to be registered as team officials
Prohibition from participating in official team activities
Possible referral to CAF Judicial Bodies for further disciplinary action
The message from CAF is clear: coaches must meet the standard or risk their careers. Clubs and national teams will now be held fully accountable for ensuring compliance.
CAF concluded its communication by encouraging stakeholders to support the successful implementation of the directives while recognizing their ongoing contributions to the growth of the sport across the continent.
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