Senegal's Pape Thiaw wins CHAN best coach award

Senegal's Pape Thiaw has been named the best coach of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Algeria, after guiding his country to a first triumph in the competition.

The winner was decided by members of the CAF Technical Study Group, just after Senegal edged Algeria 5-4 on penalties at the Nelson Mandela Stadium on Saturday to win the title.

The 41-year-old inherits the crown from Moroccan trainer Hussein Ammouta who won the award after CHAN 2020.

Thiaw achieved four wins in six games, recording five clean sheets enroute to clinching the trophy.

The Teranga Lions suffered their only defeat of the tournament against Uganda at the group stage but they recovered to win the title.

His efficiency in management of his squad provided the right chemistry for the Senegalese players.

They played tactically well to become the fifth country to win the tournament and make their coach the first West African to win the CHAN best coach prize.

Thiaw was Aliou Cisse's international colleague during their playing days as footballers and the latter won the Coach of the Year award when Senegal won the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations last year in Cameroon.

The likes of Florent Ibenge, Mutumbile Santos, Hussein Ammouta, Jamal Sellami, Javier Clemente previously received the same accolade when they were in charge.