The 2026/27 CAF Interclub Competitions are under way, and five coaches in particular arrive under considerable pressure — each tasked with meeting lofty expectations at clubs hungry for continental glory.
Rulani Mokwena — Pyramids FC
Rulani Mokwena faces one of the most demanding mandates in African club football after accepting the Pyramids FC job ahead of the new campaign. The 39-year-old South African takes over from Krunoslav Jurcic, who led the Egyptian outfit to CAF Champions League glory, meaning Mokwena inherits not a project in development but a club already sitting at African football's top table.
His time within the Mamelodi Sundowns system has sharpened his understanding of continental competition's demands. Now he has a platform to stamp his own identity on a side he will look to shape around possession-based, attacking principles. The harder task, however, may be sustaining the momentum that Jurcic built — success, once tasted, raises the bar considerably.
Miguel Cardoso — Mamelodi Sundowns
Miguel Cardoso enters the new season defending, rather than chasing, continental honours. The Portuguese coach guided Mamelodi Sundowns to the CAF Champions League title in 2025/26, and the South African giants now begin the campaign as the team every opponent will be targeting.
That elevated status brings its own complications. Rivals will study Sundowns closely and opt for more defensive, cautious setups — forcing Cardoso to solve problems he did not face as an underdog. Managing squad rotation across a demanding domestic and continental schedule will be equally critical to how far Sundowns advance.
Abdeslam Ouaddou — Orlando Pirates
Few coaches carry more momentum into the continental arena than Abdeslam Ouaddou. The Moroccan masterminded a stunning 2025/26 season for Orlando Pirates, ending Mamelodi Sundowns' eight-season stranglehold on the South African Premier League title and completing a historic domestic treble. He was rightly named Coach of the Season.
Now the CAF Champions League presents a different test. Continental football demands adaptation — long travel, unfamiliar conditions, and opponents with entirely different tactical identities. Ouaddou must show that the methods which delivered such a remarkable first season in South Africa can translate across the continent.
Bubista — RS Berkane
Bubista arrives at RS Berkane fresh from one of the most celebrated chapters of his coaching career. The Cape Verdean guided his national team to their historic first FIFA World Cup appearance in 2026 and pushed eventual finalists Argentina all the way before falling 3-2 in extra time in the Round of 32. That run transformed his reputation globally.
Club football, however, presents a different kind of challenge. Berkane reached the CAF Champions League semi-finals last season, and their supporters will demand another deep run. Bubista's ability to forge a disciplined, cohesive unit at international level was his calling card — the task now is reproducing those qualities within the daily rhythm of club management.
Hussein Ammouta — Al Ahly
Hussein Ammouta arguably faces the heaviest burden of the five. The Moroccan took charge of Al Ahly on a two-year contract in June 2026, succeeding Jess Thorup following a disappointing continental season for the Cairo giants. At a club of Al Ahly's stature, where continental dominance is considered a baseline expectation rather than an aspiration, there is little room for a slow start.
Ammouta competes in the CAF Confederation Cup with a clear mandate: restore Al Ahly to the summit of African club football. His tactical organisation and deep knowledge of the continent's football landscape are assets — but at Al Ahly, only results in the decisive moments will truly matter.
