Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman have appointed German coach Josef Zinnbauer as their new head coach on a two-year contract, handing him the task of leading the club into the new season in Rwanda and the CAF Champions League.
The 56-year-old coach returns to African football after his recent spell with Algerian side JS Kabylie. He has also managed some of the continent’s biggest clubs, including South Africa’s Orlando Pirates and Morocco’s Raja Casablanca.
Zinnbauer enjoyed considerable success in Africa. With Raja Casablanca, he won the Moroccan league title and the Moroccan Throne Cup during the 2023/24 season, while he guided Orlando Pirates to the MTN8 Cup in the 2020/21 campaign.
The German tactician has also coached in Saudi Arabia with Al Wehda and has European experience from spells at Lokomotiv Moscow, Hamburger SV and FC St. Gallen.
His appointment follows Al Hilal’s decision to part ways with Romanian coach Laurențiu Reghecampf, who has since taken charge of Tunisian giants Espérance de Tunis.
Al Hilal had been temporarily managed by Guy Bukasa, who will now move to coach the club’s reserve and youth teams.
Bukasa was in charge when Al Hilal competed in the CECAFA Kagame Cup, where the Sudanese side finished third after entering the tournament among the favourites. Rwanda’s Rayon Sports eventually lifted the trophy.
Zinnbauer takes over as Al Hilal prepare to return to the Rwanda Premier League, where they made a strong impression last season by winning the 2025/26 title in their first campaign in the country.
The club also faces a major continental test, with Al Hilal set to represent Sudan in the CAF Champions League. They will face Burundi’s Aigle Noir CS in the first qualifying round.
Zinnbauer’s appointment adds an experienced coach to an Al Hilal side looking to defend its domestic crown while making a strong push in African competition.
