Some of the most influential coaching minds behind Africa's historic FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign will gather this week in Sal, Cabo Verde, for a high-level Technical Review Panel at the CAF Strategy Conference.

Arsène Wenger, Mohamed Ouahbi, Pedro Brito "Bubista", Hossam Hassan, Sébastien Desabre, and Carlos Queiroz are all confirmed for the panel, which takes place as part of a broader conference running from 7–9 October 2026.

A record-breaking tournament for Africa

The FIFA World Cup 2026 marked a watershed moment for the continent — a record 10 African nations entered the tournament, and nine of them advanced to the knockout stages. The panel exists to capture that knowledge and distribute it across CAF's 54 Member Associations.

Wenger, in his role as FIFA Chief of Global Football Development, will offer a wide-angle view on the tournament after overseeing FIFA's Technical Study Group, which analysed all 104 matches and tracked the tactical and technical trends that defined the competition.

Coaches reflect on landmark campaigns

Ouahbi will speak to Morocco's journey to the quarter-finals, as the Atlas Lions continued to establish themselves among the world's elite national sides.

Bubista returns to his home country to recount one of the tournament's most celebrated stories — having guided Cabo Verde to their first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance and into the knockout rounds.

Hossam Hassan, a towering figure in Egyptian football, will detail the Pharaohs' historic run, which included their first FIFA World Cup victory and a place in the knockout stages.

Desabre will reflect on DR Congo's return to the World Cup after a 52-year absence, with the Leopards reaching the Round of 32 in what he described as a remarkable revival.

Queiroz, who managed Ghana at the tournament, rounds out the panel. His career has taken in coaching roles across multiple continents and national teams, and he will bring that breadth of experience to the discussion.

Building towards 2030

The panel is not simply a retrospective. CAF has designed the session to feed directly into planning for the FIFA World Cup 2030, with topics expected to include tactical trends, tournament preparation, squad management, player development, and how African teams can compete more consistently against the world's strongest sides.

The CAF Strategy Conference will also bring together coaches from all 54 Member Associations, football administrators, legends of the game, and technical experts to shape the next phase of African football's global ambitions.