On rising African stars, and the future of local coaches

Former Cameroonian international Joel Epalle shares his insights from Agadir, where he’s commentating for CAF TV at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, writes CAFonline.

From standout teams like Mozambique to surprising disappointments like Gabon, Epalle reflects on the first round of the tournament, the evolution of African football, and the growing impact of local coaches on the continent’s game.

What is your assessment of the first round of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025?

It’s a positive assessment because all the favorites we expected performed well and qualified for the second round. Only a few underdogs who could have caused upsets didn’t manage to stand out—Angola and Gabon, for example, exited quietly. Overall, I’m satisfied, especially since there are teams like Mozambique, who qualified for the second round for the first time. Benin, who wasn’t necessarily expected, also qualified, as did Sudan. It’s a positive outcome with quality football, tactical play, and entertainment across all fields.

Which team has impressed you the most so far?

I’d say Mozambique. I didn’t necessarily expect them to perform at this level. Tactically, they were very well organized. To go far in the AFCON, you need athletic qualities, but the Mozambicans are quite skillful—they played with freedom and confidence. Their football relied on sharp transitions, executed perfectly. Also, the fact that their players are mainly made from the local league and their coach is national too contributed. The coach, himself a former international, was able to implement his philosophy, and the players delivered.

Any disappointment in this first round?

My biggest disappointment is Gabon. I wasn’t expecting the performance they showed, especially compared to what they displayed recently in the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Of course, they were missing key players like Aubameyang, Lemina, and Allevinah, but I don’t think Gabon could only rely on those players to qualify. Being eliminated with zero points is a huge disappointment.

As a former Indomitable Lion, what is your take on Cameroon’s matches?

On one hand, I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly these players showed quality and maturity in their game. I expected the team to gel by the third group match, but they were already very strong early on. I also praise the coach’s decisions regarding his squad. He made some tough choices, cutting players who didn’t fit his plans. There were some internal disputes in the team, and he used his experience to make the best decisions. Today, time proves him right. For a long time, Cameroonians hadn’t seen players with this fighting spirit and determination. It’s good for Cameroon and for Africa because AFCON needs a strong Cameroon.

What can we expect from the Round of 16 starting this Saturday?

It will likely be a continuation of what the favorites showed in the group stage. There might be a few surprises, but given the matchups, logic will probably prevail with Morocco, Egypt, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria advancing. The South Africa vs. Cameroon match deserves attention—Hugo Broos knows the Indomitable Lions well, having won the AFCON with them in 2017. Tactically, this could be one of the best matches of the Round of 16.

On a personal level, you’re commentating the matches in Agadir for CAF TV. How has that experience been?

It’s going extremely well. I comment alongside my colleague Oumar Diaby, and we are very much on the same wavelength. We are fully immersed in the matches. Agadir is amazing—the atmosphere and the quality of the pitches are fantastic. Everything allows players to perform at their best. There have been many twists, unexpected scenarios, emotional highs—this is why we love AFCON. Sometimes, you think you know the outcome of a match in advance, but as the tournament progresses, you realize surprises can happen. That’s what we experienced here in Agadir.

In general, what do you think of the organization of the TotalEnergies CAF CAN Morocco 2025?

The organization is excellent—top-notch. It’s one of the best AFCONs I’ve attended. In Morocco, matches are held in nine stadiums, which is a big change from the four or six we had before. These aren’t small venues—they meet European standards, with beautiful pitches. Even the weather contributes to high-quality football.

What do you think of the evolution of African football today?

African football has progressed significantly. This AFCON shows that we are approaching the level of Europe’s best leagues. If this trend continues, especially for “smaller nations” that are working hard and starting to emerge, it bodes well for the future. I also want to applaud African football leaders for trusting local expertise. In the past, many coaches were expatriates—not necessarily a bad thing—but it’s important to give local coaches trust and resources. We’ve seen Aliou Cissé win with Senegal and Djamel Belmadi with Algeria. My dream is that one day all AFCON teams will have local coaches. It will help African football evolve because local coaches understand African players’ specifics and how to get the best from them. It would be a real plus for the tournament.

Since retiring, you’ve earned coaching diplomas and even served as assistant for Cameroon at AFCON. Will we see Joel Epalle on the sidelines soon?

Yes, I am working towards that. I’ve earned my coaching diplomas (UEFA A License) and had the chance to coach an amateur team in France. We achieved four promotions from the highest departmental level to the top regional level, which led to my promotion as assistant to Clarence Seedorf and Patrick Kluivert for Cameroon. In one year, I learned a lot from them—it was an honor. Contributing as a player and now as a coach for my country is priceless. It’s also a message to African federations: despite our expertise, opportunities in Europe are limited due to a glass ceiling. Very few African coaches lead top European clubs, so we need our federations to open doors and allow us to bring both our European experience and local knowledge. I continue to develop while waiting for the next opportunity.

Final words…

I’d like to thank CAF for giving us the chance to be part of this AFCON. I am also amazed by the warm welcome we received, especially here in Agadir, which is a great work environment with a friendly atmosphere. Long live African football!