Top 10 Best Football Team in Africa Right Now (Ranked)

Africa has been a diamond ore when it comes to giving birth to talents across the world. A continent with numerous countries, notably footballing countries, the people are absolutely in love with football. From the amateur to the senior level, football is the most popular and followed sport in Africa, with countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire once considered the pioneers of the sport on the continent. However, in recent times, many other countries have climbed up the ladder, and in this article, we will look at the best football team in Africa.

List of Best African Football Teams

While ranking the best football team in Africa was tough, we have collected data from FIFA to make the task easier. We considered their recent form and the current FIFA rankings, which would help us understand how the best African football team has performed in 2025. 

Rank	Team	Winning % (2025)
10	South Africa	76%
9	Mali	33%
8	Cameroon	50%
7	Tunisia	75%
6	Nigeria	60%
5	Cote d’Ivoire	75%
4	Algeria	80%
3	Egypt	100%
2	Senegal	50%
1	Morocco	100%

How we Ranked the Current Best Football Clubs in Africa?

There are a few criteria that were taken into consideration while compiling the list. 

• Performance in International Competitions: How the team has performed in international competitions plays a huge part in its ranking, since without a major performance, it’s tough to get them ranked.
• Legacy: All the teams in the list have a legacy since football has a huge following in Africa and is considered a sport for the masses.
• Achievements: While most teams in this list have achieved something great, a few are there who are being considered the rising stars. 

Who is the Best Football Team in Africa Currently?

10. South Africa

Home to clubs like Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa is gradually making its presence felt in the international scenario. The country hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and is currently ranked 10th among African countries by FIFA. They played seven matches in the Africa Cup of Nations and won four of them and drew only once, topping Group K.

Confederation	Nickname	AFCON Trophies	Performance in AFCON 2024-25	Notable Key Players
CAF	Bafana Bafana	1	Group K Winners	Siyabonga Ngezana

9. Mali

Mali have been in the football scenario for a long time, or to be precise since the 1930s. However, in recent times, they have been at the thick of things. They have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, but after a sensational performance in the ongoing AFCON, where they topped Group I, the citizens can expect them to rise high soon.

Confederation	Nickname	AFCON Trophies	Performance in AFCON 2024-25	Notable Key Players
CAF	The Eagles	0	Group I Winners	Yves Bissouma

8. Cameroon

A stalwart in African football, Cameroon is one of the best football team in Africa. Home to legendary football icons like Samuel Eto’o, Roger Milla, and Rigobert Song, the country is currently ranked eighth by FIFA among African countries. The five-time AFCON winners, Cameroon topped their group in the most recent edition, and are expected to go far in the competition, provided their long-term experience of playing against top nations in the world, as they have also featured in the FIFA World Cup eight times, with their best outing coming in 1990, when they reached the quarter-finals.

Confederation	Nickname	AFCON Trophies	Performance in AFCON 2024-25	Notable Key Players
CAF	Indomitable Lions	5	Group J Winners	Frank Anguissa, Bryan Mbeumo, Andre Onana, Vincent Aboubakar

7. Tunisia

Tunisia, who won the AFCON back in 2004, are currently enjoying a fine moment. Although they are not the best football team in Africa, but sooner or later, they might escalate into that position. In the ongoing AFCON, they ended as Group A runners-up to Comoros. Notably, this year they have played four games and lost only once, winning the rest in style.

Confederation	Nickname	AFCON Trophies	Performance in AFCON 2024-25	Notable Key Players
CAF	Eagles of Carthage	1	Group A Runners-up	Anis Slimane, Hannibal Mejbri

6. Nigeria

Once the best African football team, Nigeria’s charm has faded in recent times due to the rise of other gigantic nations like Morocco and Egypt. However, they are a country with a rich football heritage, and people who love football. Having first appeared in the FIFA World Cup in 1994, they have featured in the competition six times and have made it to the last-16 on three occasions. Home to footballers like Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, John Obi Mikel and Victor Osimhen among others, the three-time AFCON winners topped Group D to advance to the next stage. 

Confederation	Nickname	AFCON Trophies	Performance in AFCON 2024-25	Notable Key Players
CAF	Super Eagles	3	Group D Winners	Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Boniface, Victor Osimhen

Also Read: Top 10 African Players in Premier League History – Ranked

5. Cote d’Ivoire

The world will forever be indebted to Cote d’Ivoire for gifting footballers like Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, and Gervinho, who featured at the topmost level in the sport. The three-time AFCON winners, who won the competition as recently as 2023, featured thrice in the FIFA World Cup and ended the current AFCON campaign as Group G runners, advancing to the next round. 

Confederation	Nickname	AFCON Trophies	Performance in AFCON 2024-25	Notable Key Players
CAF	The Elephants	3	Group G Runners-up	Amad Diallo, Sebastian Haller

4. Algeria

When it comes to Algeria, it is unfair that it can’t claim Zinedine Zidane, who was once the world’s most decorated footballer, is of their descent. However, in recent times, the country has made sensational progress in football and has the potential to emerge as one of the best football team in Africa soon. Having won the AFCON twice in 1990 and 2019, they emerged Group E winners in the current campaign. They have featured in the FIFA World Cup four times, with their last appearance coming in 2014, and currently, they are captained by Riyad Mahrez.

Confederation	Nickname	AFCON Trophies	Performance in AFCON 2024-25	Notable Key Players
CAF	The Greens	2	Group E Winners	Rayan Ait-Nouri, Amine Gouiri

3. Egypt

Egypt have been the most successful team when it comes to winning the AFCON, a record seven times! Their dominance has been ever present since 1950s, however, they have featured in the FIFA World Cup only thrice – in 1934, 1990, and 2018. Currently led by talismanic winger Mohamed Salah, they topped Group C in the ongoing AFCON campaign and will be looking to add their eighth title soon!

Confederation	Nickname	AFCON Trophies	Performance in AFCON 2024-25	Notable Key Players
CAF	Pharaohs	7	Group C Winners	Mohamed Salah

2. Senegal

Although fans might view this as controversial, but in recent times Senegal have stamped their authority in world football and are the second best African football team right now, ranked second by FIFA in the CAF category. They are the Group L toppers of the current AFCON, and won the competition only once back in 2021. They would be now looking to add their second title, helping them establish themselves as the best football team in Africa.

Confederation	Nickname	AFCON Trophies	Performance in AFCON 2024-25	Notable Key Players
CAF	Lions of Teranga	1	Group L Winners	Kalidou Koulibaly

1. Morocco

The best football team in Africa currently is Morocco, who have not lost a single game in 2025 and won all four. Although they don’t have ‘one’ superstar, they are a star-studded team, which shows extreme unity on the pitch. They have appeared at the FIFA World Cup six times, with their recent outing coming in 2022, where they handed an upset to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. This was also their most successful campaign as they ended fourth, losing out to Croatia in the bronze medal game.

Confederation	Nickname	AFCON Trophies	Performance in AFCON 2024-25	Notable Key Players
CAF	Atlas Lions	1	Group B Winners	Brahim Diaz, Sofyan Amrabat, Achraf Hakimi

Also Read: Top 10 Best Liverpool Players – 2025 (Ranked)

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