Historic AFCON Shock: Four African Teams Reach the Semi-Finals in Morocco
14 January 2026
Historic AFCON Semi-Finals: Four African Teams Reach the Last Four
The four nations that advanced to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals in Morocco are witnessing a rare moment in the continental championship.
For the first time since 1965, when Tunisia hosted, four African coaches lead the semi-finalists.
Senegal, led by Papi Thiayou, will face Egypt, guided by football legend Hossam Hassan, in the first semi-final today in Tangier.
Meanwhile, host Morocco, under Walid Regragui, will meet Nigeria, led by Eric Shill, a former Mali international who made waves in recent campaigns.
The 1965 quartet—Ghana, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, and Senegal—reached the semi-finals in Tunisia.
Ghana eventually won the title, beating Tunisia, while Ivory Coast defeated Senegal for third place.
First-time title ambitions
Eric Shill aims for Nigeria's first AFCON crown, after leaving a clear mark in the 2023 edition with Mali, reaching the quarterfinals before a painful exit to the host Ivory Coast.
In contrast, Hossam Hassan seeks Egypt's eighth title, which would make him the third coach to win the Cup both as player and coach, following the late Mahmoud El Gohary and others.
Meanwhile, Papi Thiayou hopes for his first title as Senegal’s head coach, drawing on his past stint as an assistant to Aliou Cisse, the architect behind Senegal's 2021 success.
Punchlines from the trenches: if history repeats itself, the trophy will travel; if not, it will stay in Tangier with a souvenir scarf. And remember, football has a way of turning coffee into last-minute goals.
Two extra light jabs for the road: 1) If these coaches were stand-up comics, the crowd would be laughing at the sound of a ball bouncing into the net. 2) When in doubt, bring more subs—the ball likes fresh legs more than a fresh cup of mint tea.
