Thiaw Makes History: First Coach to Win Both CHAN and AFCON

By Macdella Eyong Bessong 

Journalist kick442.com – Cameroon

History was made on the night of January 18, 2025, as Senegal’s head coach Pape Thiaw became the first coach in African football history to win both the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The 44-year-old guided the Teranga Lions to their second AFCON trophy following a dramatic 1–0 win over host nation Morocco, a match filled with intensity, pressure, and moments of near chaos.

This 35th edition of Africa’s premier football tournament was a stern test for all coaches who reached the later stages, demanding tactical mastery, meticulous preparation, and adaptability. Thiaw emerged as the last man standing, showcasing his ability to fine-tune strategies and guide his team to glory.

Thiaw first won the CHAN in 2023 with Senegal and has since impressed at the senior level. His AFCON triumph in 2025 came unbeaten in competitive matches, with an outstanding record of 14 wins from 16 games — a fitting testament to his tactical discipline, leadership, and adaptability.

Appointed as Senegal’s head coach in 2024, Thiaw succeeded Aliou Cissé, under whom he had served as assistant during Senegal’s historic AFCON victory in 2021. With this latest achievement, he has etched his name in history as only the second coach to lead Senegal to multiple AFCON titles. Notably, both coaches who have guided Senegal to AFCON glory twice have been local, underlining the strength of domestic coaching talent.

From the semi-final stage onward, one thing became certain: an African coach would lift the AFCON trophy for the fourth consecutive edition, following the triumphs of Djamel Belmadi with Algeria in 2019, Aliou Cissé with Senegal in 2021, and Emerse Faé with Côte d’Ivoire in 2023.

This marks the sixth time an African coach has lifted the AFCON trophy, and the first time in the tournament’s history that it has occurred four times consecutively — a powerful testament to the growth, excellence, and prominence of African coaching on the continental stage.