Top National Football Teams in Africa; Africa is one of the wealthiest continents in terms of talents, attraction sites, and culture. Football is among the talents that Africa is proud of having.
With 54 countries, every country has a national team that does well in its own capacity. However, for decades few teams have remained dominant in Africa’s football history and they have represented Africa in several World Cup competitions.
These teams have been in existence since many countries got their independence and they have produced a series of great players whose reputations went beyond Africa. However, in one way or the other, most African stars have been jetting out of Africa to Europe, America, the Middle East, and Asia in search of green pasture.
They only return during the African Cup of Nations Competition to represent their countries. Some even decide to fully abandon their duties and go ahead to play internationally for other teams. Below is the list of top national football teams in Africa.
List of Top National Football Teams In Africa.
1. Senegal
Senegal was founded in the 1960s and they are famously known as the Lion of Teranga. It has been one of the most successful national teams in Africa having represented Africa in Several World Cup competitions. The reigning AFCON champions will also be hitting the upcoming 2022 World Cup competitions in Qatar.
In 2002 they reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup competition but they were beaten mercilessly by Turkey. The same year they finished runners-up in the AFCONs before collecting the win in 2021. Currently, Sadio Mane is the top goal scorer with 33 goals.
2. Egypt
The land of Mohamed Gardaffi has also dominated the football world in Africa for decades. The Pharaos as they are well known are regarded as one of the most successful teams in Africa’s football history.
They have netted the AFCON trophy seven times, they have only made three appearances on the world stage but they have never made it past the group stages. In 2017, they took the bar a little bit higher after they hit 24 consecutive AFCONS matches unbeaten. The Egyptians really embrace their own and they are very committed to their local leagues than other leagues. At one time for one to qualify to play for the national team, they had to have experience playing for local teams.
3. Cameroon
The Indomitable Lions as they are well known have proved they really are the Lions on the pitch. They were the official host of the 2021 AFCON but were eliminated in the semi-finals and finished in 3rd place. The home of Samuel Etoo has bagged five AFCONs trophies and still hunting for more. They have made four World Cup Appearances and the best they have gone is the quarterfinals in 1990. Samuel Etoo stands as the country’s top scorer with 56 goals
4. Nigeria
Legends like Jay Jay Okacha were molded in this country. The Super Eagles have struggled to remain relevant for many years pushing it hard day by day. Their dominance can be traced from way back in the 1990s when they were nicknamed The Giants of Africa due to their prowess in the game.
They have carried the AFCON trophy three times, in 1994 they entered FIFA World rankings taking the fifth position, the best position an African team has ever reached.
5. Ghana
The Black Stars of Ghana is regarded as one of the most balanced teams in Africa with a history of great players and passionate fans. They will be among the teams representing Africa in the upcoming World cup in 2022. The Black Stars have won four AFCONs trophies and managed to reach the quarterfinal in the 2010 World Cup.
This was one of the most controversial World Cups in Africa’s football history as they were an inch to getting to the semi-finals but Asamoah Gyan missed a penalty shot that is still on replay to date.
6. Algeria
Algeria is located in the Nothern part of Africa and they are commonly referred to as The Desert Foxes. They will be joining the likes of Ghana and Senegal in trial to deliver Africa’s first World Cup trophy.
They have won two AFCON trophies and they have always been on top of their games with top-notch players like Riyad Mahrez.
7. Morocco
The Atlas Lions as they are commonly known have a well-documented record since the 1970s. Though they have not been able to attain the mile like the other North African countries.
It has a solid history of producing classy players like Mustapha Hadji, Hakim Ziyech, and Achraf Hakimi.
8. Ivory Coast
The West-based country has a lot to offer in Africa’s football history. It is one of the countries that has produced players that left stamps in other countries with a track of good record. The land of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou has won two AFCON trophies and has stepped on the World stage severally back in the day.
9. Tunisia
Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles have been one of the consistence teams as far as African football is concerned. They have been keeping a clean record but something surprisingly is that they have only one AFCON trophy in 2004.
10. South Africa
The motherland of Nelson Mandela closes out the list of top teams in Africa. South Africans are football enthusiasts and in 2010 they were handed the mandate to host the World’s most coveted tournament, the World Cup but they were eliminated in the group stages. They have one AFCON trophy in their possession and are hunting for more.