RismadarVoice Reporters
September 10, 2026
Ivorian football legend Yaya Touré has made history by becoming the first African head coach to lead a team in the UEFA Champions League main league phase.
Touré guided Slovak champions Slovan Bratislava into their Champions League campaign, with the club facing defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in a historic European encounter.
Although Slovan Bratislava suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat against PSG, the night remained a landmark moment for African football as Touré broke new ground for coaches from the continent on Europe’s biggest club stage.
PSG dominated the match, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring twice and Ferran Torres completing a hat-trick before Fabián Ruiz added another goal. Slovan’s Suleiman Camara scored a consolation goal for Touré’s side.
Touré, a former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder, took charge of Slovan Bratislava after beginning his coaching career as an assistant with the Saudi Arabia national team. His appointment marked a significant step in his transition from an iconic player to a top-level coach.
The Ivorian’s achievement has been celebrated as an inspiration for a new generation of African coaches seeking opportunities at the highest levels of international football.
