Addis Ababa, August 27, 2026 (FMC) — Ivorian football great Yaya Touré has made African football history, becoming the first African coach to lead a club into the UEFA Champions League league phase after guiding Slovak club Slovan Bratislava through a dramatic qualifying campaign.
Slovan secured its place in Europe’s premier club competition with a 2-1 victory over Slovenia’s NK Celje after extra time on Wednesday, completing a 3-2 aggregate win. Cristian Martínez scored the decisive goal in the 100th minute to send the Slovakian champions through.
The landmark achievement places Touré in a unique position in African football history. While African coaches have previously guided clubs through Champions League qualifying rounds, none had taken a team into the competition’s league phase before the Ivorian.
Touré’s achievement is particularly striking given that he is in his first senior head-coaching role. The former Côte d’Ivoire international previously made his mark on the Champions League stage as a player, lifting the trophy with Barcelona in 2009.
The four-time African Footballer of the Year joined Slovan Bratislava in July and has now returned to European football’s biggest club competition in a new role, this time making history from the touchline.
For African football, Touré’s breakthrough represents more than a personal milestone—it marks a significant moment in the continent’s growing presence and influence on Europe’s biggest club stage.