The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a sweeping set of new coaching regulations, designed to professionalize and elevate coaching standards across all levels of African football.
The updated criteria, which apply to both men’s and women’s competitions, were recently approved by CAF’s Executive Committee and communicated to all Member Associations.
Under the new rules, head coaches and assistant coaches for senior national teams and club competitions must hold a CAF A Licence or CAF Pro Licence, or their equivalent from other football confederations.
These changes affect not just the CAF Men’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and Champions League, but also the Women’s AFCON, CAF Women’s Champions League, and all youth tournaments including U17, U20, and U23 categories.
Coaching Requirements by Competition:
Men’s Competitions:
AFCON, CHAN, Champions League, Confederation Cup, Super Cup:
Head Coach: CAF A / CAF Pro or equivalent PRO Licence
Assistant Coaches: CAF A or equivalent PRO Licence
Women’s Competitions:
AFCON & Champions League:
Head Coach: CAF A or equivalent PRO Licence
Assistant Coaches: CAF B or equivalent PRO Licence
Youth Competitions (Men & Women):
U17/U20/U23 (AFCON & FIFA World Cup):
Head Coach: CAF B or A, or equivalent
Assistant Coaches: CAF C or A, or equivalent
CAF has granted a grace period to coaches hired before May 4, 2025, allowing them until the end of the 2026/2027 season to meet the new licensing requirements. However, coaches who are hired after this date must already possess the appropriate licenses before taking up any technical roles.
Failure to comply with these directives will have serious consequences. Coaches without the necessary certifications will not be allowed in Zones 1 and 2 of stadiums—which include technical and field access—during CAF matches. They will also be barred from registering as team officials or participating in any official team activities. In some cases, referral to CAF’s Judicial Bodies and additional disciplinary actions may follow.
CAF stressed that these reforms aim to improve the overall quality of African football by ensuring that teams are led by qualified and competent professionals.
“We take this opportunity to once again express our appreciation for your continued contributions to the development of African football and our continuous support to collectively enhance its future. We trust that you will play a pivotal role in the successful implementation of these new directives,” CAF noted in its official communication
