Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said more African coaches are needed to take football on the continent to the next level and develop teams capable of challenging for the World Cup. Brazilian great Pele predicted in 1977 that an African team would win the tournament by 2000 but returns have been disappointing, with only three quarter-final appearances by African teams in the event’s history.
Cisse’s 2002 Senegal side were one of those, along with Cameroon in 1990 and Ghana in 2010. The dreadlocked 42-year-old said players from those teams were now turning to coaching and could provide a crucial boost to African football. “I represent a new generation that would like to have its place among African football and world football,” he said. “We’re good players with pasts as professional football players and are very good tactically. We have the right to be among the top international coaches.” he added.