Rulani Mokwena and the tactical minds shaping the CAF Champions League group stages

The African club football season will kick off on Friday with the start of the CAF Champions League group stages, a competition renowned for its unpredictability and fierce rivalry.

As clubs across the continent ramp up their preparations, attention shifts to the tacticians who will steer their teams through this critical phase.

The group stages are marked not only by the skill displayed on the pitch, but also by the strategic prowess of the coaches at the helm.

As the competition intensifies, here are three key tacticians to watch as they look to guide their teams toward success in this prestigious tournament.

Rulani Mokwena (MC Alger)

He is the only South African coach in this season’s CAF Champions League group stages. Mokwena’s journey from a successful tenure at Mamelodi Sundowns to Algeria’s MC Alger is a narrative worth following.

Algeria’s domestic league ranks third in Africa behind Egypt and Morocco, and Mokwena has an unblemished record after eight games this season. He is fast emerging as a beacon of innovation and tactical prowess.

While at Sundowns, he demonstrated his keen eye for talent and developed a playing style that fans admired. He had a knack for fostering player development, and instilling a winning mentality was pivotal in securing multiple league titles and domestic cups.

This impressive background sets a robust foundation for his aspirations at MC Alger, a club steeped in history and ambition. Under Mokwena’s guidance, the team is not just aiming to win national accolades but is also strategising for deeper runs in African competitions.

His vision for the team resonates with the players, who are beginning to embody the ethos of relentless pursuit of excellence.

Miguel Cardoso (Mamelodi Sundowns)

As the start of the group stages looms, Cardoso is more determined than ever to seize continental glory.

He has back-to-back CAF Champions League silver-medal finishes with Esperance de Tunis and Sundowns, who fell short against Pyramids in a gripping final last season.

The Portuguese-born coach Cardoso brings extensive European experience to the African stage, having coached in Greece, Ukraine, Spain, Portugal and France. Last season, Cardoso’s strategic insights and his ability to harness players’ strengths played a crucial role in their campaign.

This season, Cardoso returns with renewed vigour and a singular goal: to dethrone their rivals and reclaim the continental crown that has so far eluded the Pretoria-based club. The combination of his extensive European experience and the rich talent pool at Sundowns lays the groundwork for an exciting campaign ahead.

“We have learned from our past experiences,” Cardoso remarked in a recent press conference. “Every setback is an opportunity for growth, and this season, we are primed to go all the way.”

Krunoslav Jurcic (Pyramids FC)

Few African club football narratives resonate as powerfully as that of Krunoslav Jurcic and Pyramids FC. The Croatian tactician marked a monumental chapter in the club’s history by winning the Champions League in his debut season.

With the rise of this Egyptian club under his leadership, Jurcic has undeniably etched his name into the annals of football history. The hallmarks of Jurcic’s coaching ethos have been strategic brilliance and an unwavering focus. In each match, he displayed tactical adaptability, neutralising some of the strongest teams on the continent.

This unique ability to adjust his game plan based on his opponents not only secured victories but also instilled a newfound confidence within his squad.

The psychological edge derived from their championship win could be crucial as they enter the competitive group stage of the continental tournament. Having tasted success, Jurcic is now more determined than ever to solidify the club’s position among Africa’s elite.

The upcoming matches are not just opportunities to play; they are stages upon which Pyramids can assert their influence, signalling to rival clubs that they are a force in African football. The road might be challenging, but with Jurcic at the helm, the Pyramids faithful can dream big. After all, this is more than just football for them — it’s a quest for legacy.