This month’s African Nations Cup finals will be filled with players from the top clubs of Europe, among them giants like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Benfica, Liverpool, Chelsea and Olympique Lyon.

Increasingly dominating too are coaches from outside the continent. In Ghana this month, three-quarters come from Europe and South America with just four from Africa: Angola, Sudan, Zambia and defending champions Egypt.

The influence of European coaches has been felt since the early days of the tournament over half a century ago now. In the 25 previous tournaments, 13 titles have been won by teams under the tutelage of European and South American coaches, just ahead of 12 titles garnered by locals.

Three past winners are in the field in Ghana, where the 26th edition of the Nations Cup will get underway on Jan. 20.

Egypt return with ex-international Hassan Shehata as they seek to defend the crown they won on home soil in 2006. Celebrations of that victory were diminished by the very public confrontation Shehata endured with Mido when the striker refused to leave the pitch after being substituted in the semi-final.

The temperamental Mido called his coach a “donkey” in a dramatic pitch side spat that served only to underline the stereotype that star players from top European clubs will only take seriously a coach of similar stature, and that Africa’s top coaching talent has little chance of breaking through at national team level.

For decades, football associations have looked northwards for coaching guidance and, as a result, locals are often shunted aside to make way for big-name imports.

Nigeria, for example, made it to the semi-finals in Egypt some 24 month ago under Austin Eguavoen but despite that achievement he is now relegated to the role of an assistant to Berti Vogts.

Benin and Cameroon has also sidelined the local coaches who ensured their qualification for Ghana, employing German replacements instead on the eve of the finals.

Ghana coach Claude LeRoy, who has coached more Nations Cup games than any other, is a former Nations Cup winner, achieving success with Cameroon 20 years ago.

The colourful Frenchman has been critical of many of his compatriots who have sat on the benches of African football teams over the years. LeRoy’s particular beef is with what he calls “Club Med coaches”, those who base themselves at home and travel only to Africa in and around matches.

This was the policy adopted by the German Winnie Schafer (among many others) when he was in charge of Cameroon. He had a logical argument, insisting his work would be better served by staying home in Germany where access to most of his European-based regulars was easier. But the counter argument was that he never got to see, work with and develop locally-based talent in the domestic leagues.

Dutchman Arie Haan and Frenchman Henri Michel are two others who fall into this category but Michel, like Schafer, can point to considerable success in African football over the years.

Cameroon won the Nations Cup with Schafer four years ago and Michel took the Ivory Coast to the 2006 finals as well as a debut at the World Cup finals in Germany.

Mark Gleeson will be covering the African Nations Cup finals in Ghana for Reuters. Check out our coverage at the main soccer site here.

PHOTO: Nigeria coach Berti Vogts instructs his team during their friendly against Switzerland in Zurich, November 20, 2007. REUTERS/Michael Buholzer