Sébastien Migné, Gabon to finally deliver in Africa

This Wednesday, the Gabonese Football Federation officially announced the appointment of Sébastien Migné as the new head coach. Is the French coach the best choice to revive the Panthers after the disastrous CAN 2025? That is the big question. Especially since the new head coach has never really impressed on the continent.

First steps as head coach in Congo

For a long time the assistant to Claude Le Roy in DRC (2011-2013), Congo Brazzaville (2013-2015) and Togo (2016-2017), Sébastien Migné started his career as main head coach in Africa with Congo’s Red Devils. Between 2017 and 2018, he was in charge of a national team in decline. He was not able to turn things around and posted an unenviable record. In 7 matches, the native of La Roche-sur-Yon recorded 3 draws and 4 defeats, which hastened his departure.

Stint in Kenya and qualification for CAN 2019

On May 3, 2018, Sébastien Migné took the reins of the Kenyan national team. On the Harambee Stars’ bench, the 54-year-old coach directed 16 matches with a record of 8 wins, 2 draws, and 6 defeats. The main feat was Kenya’s qualification for CAN 2019—truly an achievement, since the team was returning to the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004.

At CAN 2019 in Egypt, Kenya, which had never made it past the first round, once again exited at the group stage. Placed in Group C with Senegal, Algeria, and Tanzania, the Kenyan team finished the first round with 3 points. Beaten (0-2) by the Fennecs and (0-3) by the Lions, they managed to defeat Tanzania (3-2) in the final game. Since 2019, the Harambee Stars have not qualified for another CAN.

Two years before the end of his contract, Sébastien Migné reached an agreement with the Kenyan Football Federation to step down on August 12, 2019.

Brief stint in Equatorial Guinea and demotion in Cameroon

Although he signed a two-year contract with Equatorial Guinea, Sébastien Migné spent only 7 months there. He was appointed on November 7, 2019, and left his role in June 2020. In 7 months, he was in charge for only two games, both defeats. A very brief spell at the helm of the Nzalang Nacional that will not go down in history.

Against all odds, in February 2022, Migné was named assistant coach to Rigobert Song in Cameroon. With the Indomitable Lions, he took part in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and at CAN 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire. After the Cameroonian team was eliminated by Nigeria in the round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations, the technical staff was dismissed.

Two years later, Sébastien Migné makes his return to the African continent. Now on the bench of Gabon, the former Leyton Orient player must reverse his negative trend in Africa. He needs to pull off something big with the Panthers.