The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has introduced a major update to its coaching regulations through the new CAF Coaching Convention. This aims to raise technical standards across the continent.
The rules apply to all CAF inter-club competitions, the CAF Women’s Champions League, and national teams under CAF.
Key changes include:
– Mandatory compliance with higher licensing standards for coaches.
– Coaches without the required qualifications must update their certifications.
– A two-season grace period (2025/2026 and 2026/2027) is allowed for coaches already under valid contracts signed before the new rules.
– No grace period for new appointments — coaches hired now must meet the qualification criteria immediately. 
In a positive step for gender inclusion, women’s competitions (including the Women’s Champions League) now require at least one woman as either head coach or assistant coach.
Non-compliance will lead to serious penalties, such as restricted stadium access (Zones 1 & 2), refusal of team registration, exclusion from activities, and possible referral to CAF judicial bodies.
The CAF Pro Licence, the highest qualification, will be managed directly by CAF for consistent standards.
These changes reflect CAF’s commitment to professionalising coaching and improving football quality at club and national levels across Africa.