WAFCON: Coaches with a point to prove in Morocco

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Thursday Jul 03, 2025. 15:00

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) is set to kick off on Saturday, July 5, with 12 teams competing in the showpiece.

The biggest and most prestigious women’s football tournament in Africa will be hosted by Morocco, and a new stunning trophy will be up for grabs.

We take a look at the three coaches with a point to prove at WAFCON;

Jorge Vilda (Morocco)

The Spanish tactician will be under pressure to deliver Morocco’s first-ever WAFCON title, with the North African country hosting the tournament for the second time in a row.

Vilda is an accomplished coach who guided Spain to the 2017 Algarve Cup and 2018 Cyprus Cup before leading his nation to its first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup triumph in 2023.

The former FC Barcelona and Real Madrid academy player will be determined to show that his success with Spain was no fluke by winning the WAFCON title with the Atlas Lionesses.

Alex Malete (Botswana)

At the age of 35, the Motswana tactician will be one of the youngest coaches at this year’s WAFCON, having taken charge of the team in 2023 after serving as an assistant coach.

Malete sat on the bench next to then-head coach Gaoletlhoo Nkutlwisang as Botswana made history by reaching the quarter-finals of the WAFCON for the first time in 2022.

The former UB Hawks coach will be keen to show beyond doubt that age is just a number by guiding the Mares beyond the quarter-finals of the continental showpiece.

Randy Waldrum (Nigeria)

When the American mentor was appointed head coach of the most successful nation in the history of WAFCON, Nigeria, in 2020, he was mandated to win the tournament.

However, the Super Falcons endured a disappointing 2022 WAFCON campaign by their high standards, as they lost in the semi-finals and eventually finished fourth in the competition under Waldrum.

The former Houston Dash coach will be eager to prove that the 2022 WAFCON disappointment was just a blip and guide the Super Falcons to a record-extending 12th WAFCON title.