South Africa's head coach Desiree Ellis picked up the Women's Coach of the Year award for a second year running at the Confederation of Africa (CAF) Awards 2019 in Hurghada, Egypt.

The Banyana Banyana coach claimed the award back-to-back to become just the second coach to do so - male or female. Ellis beat the likes of former Nigeria coach Thomas Dennerby and Cameroon's Alain Djeumfa to the prize. 

Ellis coached the Banyana's to their first Fifa Women's World Cup appearance in France last year. Despite an early exit from the tournament, Ellis led her country after decades of qualification heartbreak.

Ellis's side came close to continental victory after narrowly missing out on the 2018 African Women's Championship title to Nigeria.

In 2018, the CAF introduced the Women's Coach of the Year category, meaning Ellis is the only person to win this award so far.

In total, South Africa now own three Coach of the Year awards, with two belonging to Ellis and one held by Pitso Mosimane, who won the 2016 men's trophy.

Ahead of them are Nigeria and France, with five each across the two coaching categories since the introduction of the men's award in 2000.


List of all CAF Award Winners:

  • African Player of the Year: Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
  • African Women’s Player of the Year: Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona)
  • African Interclubs Player of the Year: Youcef Belaïli (Algeria & Esperance/Ahli Jeddah)
  • African Youth Player of the Year: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)
  • African Men’s Coach of the Year: Djamel Belmadi (Algeria)
  • African Men’s National Team of the Year: Algeria
  • African Women’s Coach of the Year: Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
  • African Women’s National Team of the Year: Cameroon
  • Federation of the Year: Egyptian Football Association
  • Special Award: Kojovi Obilale (Togo)


CAF Fifpro Best XI:

  • Goalkeeper: Andre Onana
  • Defenders: Achraf Hakimi‚ Serge Aurier‚ Joel Matip‚ Kalidou Koulibaly
  • Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye‚ Riyad Mahrez‚ Hakim Ziyech
  • Forwards: Mohamed Salah‚ Sadio Mane‚ Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang