Avram Grant v Walid Regragui: Celebrated managers on collision course at Afcon

On the touchline for the last night of a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations group phase will stand two coaching pioneers of the Mena region.

To one, the garlands keep being offered. Walid Regragui, head coach of Morocco, is the pathfinder for African and Arab football, a rising star whose horizons keep extending. He’s been African club champion, with Wydad of Casablanca, and World Cup semi-finalist within the last 18 months.

If momentum and pedigree are still to be trusted at an Africa Cup of Nations where hierarchy is under constant upstart challenge, the main continental title should be achievable before mid-February.

Up against Regragui on Wednesday is the worldliest coach at this Afcon, Avram Grant. He was a Nations Cup finalist in 2015, a Uefa Champions League finalist in 2008 and is now in charge of a Zambia confronting significant hurdles to make the knockout phase.

They have two points from two games so far and face what Grant calls “the best team in Africa and a fantastic young coach.”

Grant, 68, smiles at the comparison between himself and Regragui, 20 years his junior. But there are clear echoes in their career journeys. In his mid 40s, Grant was suddenly making his name internationally as manager of his country.

That is Israel, usually no more than light-middleweights in the Uefa zone they have competed in since regional conflicts removed them from the Asian Football Confederation generations ago, but on his watch, they came tantalising close to making a World Cup finals.

The storied career that followed – at Chelsea, who he took to a Champions League final, lost on penalties; two further jobs in the English Premier League and stints in Serbia, Asia and Africa – has been nothing if not intrepid.

It has its