CHAN 2024: How Harambee Stars Players Stand to Benefit From CAF Expert Panel

The African football governing body CAF has named top experts to analyze CHAN 2024, spotlighting talent and tactical trends continent-wide.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced a powerhouse panel of technical experts who will form the Technical Study Group (TSG) for the much-anticipated African Nations Championship (CHAN), PAMOJA 2024.

The tournament, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, will see the month-long spectacle unfold across five major stadiums, with the TSG tasked with analyzing tactical developments, emerging stars, and coaching philosophies that shape the event.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

The expert group includes some of the most respected minds in African football—coaches, ex-professionals, instructors, and analysts with deep roots in the game.

Among the most notable is Senegal’s Pape Bouna Thiaw, who led his nation to CHAN glory in 2023, edging Algeria in a tense final decided by penalties.

“Returning to CHAN as part of the TSG is an honor. Having lived through the intensity of this competition, I’m excited to help dissect its evolving tactical landscape,” said Thiaw, who was crowned Best Coach of the Tournament last year.

Thiaw’s inclusion offers more than just symbolic value—his recent exploits and attacking football philosophy reflect the direction CAF hopes to guide the tournament’s evolution.

With prior experience as a FIFA Technical Study Group member for the U-17 World Cup in Indonesia (2022), he brings international pedigree alongside his African credentials.

A Continental Powerhouse of Football Minds

The TSG’s lineup reads like a roll call of African football excellence. South Africa’s Mark Fish, a 1996 AFCON champion and former defender for Lazio and Bolton Wanderers, brings a rare blend of elite-level playing experience and youth development expertise.

Angola’s João Cláudio De Almeida "Miller" Gomes, a tactician revered for his work with both youth and senior teams, joins the group with a focus on tactical balance and development rooted in local realities.

Tunisia’s Kamel Kolsi, another seasoned figure, has a sharp eye for North African talent and deep experience guiding U-20 squads.

“Football in Africa is changing rapidly,” said Kolsi.

“The role of this group is to ensure we not only track that evolution but help shape it through data, insight, and mentoring.”

South Africa’s Walter Steenbok, former SAFA Technical Director and a widely respected football strategist, will provide analytical depth, while Mali’s Mohamed Magassouba adds three decades of top-tier coaching experience.

Regional Footprints Across Host Nations

The TSG members have been strategically stationed across all venues of CHAN PAMOJA 2024 to ensure broad coverage and localized analysis.

At Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Magassouba and Kolsi will oversee proceedings. Down the road at Nyayo Stadium, Steenbok and UK-based Murad Abdulkadir Mahamoud take charge.

In Kampala, Tanzania’s Oscar Rabson Mirambo teams up with Ethiopia’s Abraham Mebratu Gebreslassie. Dar es Salaam’s Benjamin Mkapa Stadium will see Thiaw and Kenyan coach Michael Amenga Okoth lead evaluations, while Zanzibar’s Amaan Stadium hosts Gomes and Fish.

Kenya’s inclusion in the panel, through Okoth and Mahamoud, offers an exciting opportunity for local expertise to contribute to continental progress.

“This is not just about scouting stars—it’s about shaping the future of African football,” said Okoth.

The group’s insights, powered by cutting-edge stats and video analysis tools, will culminate in detailed reports on player performances, tactical innovations, and coaching techniques.

These findings will be shared with the wider football community via Cafonline.com, ensuring the impact of CHAN PAMOJA 2024 endures well beyond the tournament’s final whistle.