Al-Ahly (Egypt), Orlando Pirates (South Africa), CR Belouizdad (Algeria)... These are the prestigious teams that make up Stade d'Abidjan's group in the CAF Champions League. "Three tough opponents, but a highly rewarding experience," says Alexandre Lafitte, 27, the head coach of the Ivorian capital's club for the past two years. However, the Frenchman is unable to coach his team optimally during the competition. After already having to oversee a match 1,000 kilometers away, he is now confined to the stands due to the lack of equivalence between UEFA and CAF coaching licenses. "Only the UEFA Pro or CAF A licenses allow you to coach at this level. Unfortunately, the CAF A doesn’t equate to my UEFA A," laments Lafitte, who, in the absence of an exemption, hopes to enroll in the UEFA Pro program next season. This has made his continental journey a frustrating one. "Coaching from the stands is very difficult because my staff doesn’t convey the same energy that I transmit, and I feel less connected to my players. Additionally, even though the game plan is set beforehand, when facing such strong opponents, you have to adapt and respond to micro-situations during the game. From my position in the stands, the degree of difficulty of getting my messages across increases." After three matches (two losses and one win), Alexandre Lafitte has managed to find a silver lining in this constraint: "I have a broader view of the field, which allows for more insightful tactical analysis at halftime or when making substitutions." This perspective will likely be valuable for the next three games.
Brief
After saving the club from relegation, Alexandre Lafitte led Stade Abidjan to second place in the Ivorian league and a historic qualification for the Champions League / ©DR