Top 10 Best Football Team in Africa - 2025 (Ranked)

Throughout history, Africa has served as a diamond ore when it comes to giving birth to exceptional talents and is home to many best football team in Africa. Despite producing world-class players, Africa as a continent is often overlooked and downplayed as 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 such as Cape Verde & South Africa have climbed up the ladder to gain significant recognition as the best African football teams. On that note, let's take a look at the best football team in Africa.

List of Best African Soccer Teams

While ranking the best African football teams was tough, we have considered their recent form and the current FIFA rankings, which would help us understand which is the best African football team.

Note: This list has been modified as per the latest CAF 2025 awards nominations list and the ranking factors below:

How We Ranked the Best African Football Teams?

There are a few criteria that were taken into consideration while compiling the list of the best football team in Africa based on various ranking factors such as their recent performances, legacy and achievements.

• Recent Performance: How the team has performed in international competitions in recent times plays a huge part in its ranking, since without a major performance, it’s tough to get them ranked.
• Legacy: the second is legacy; all the teams in the list have a rich legacy established over the years. 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, however, a few are there who are being considered the rising stars yet to claim a major title.

Who is the Best Football Team in Africa in 2025?

Several football teams, based in Africa and they have proven their worth on the global stage across generations. Nowadays, teams like Egypt, Senegal, and Morocco are considered the football giants on the continent, thanks to players like Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen, and Sadio Mane, who have already made an unimaginable impact in European club football. Here, we’ll discuss the current best football teams in Africa:

10. Cameroon

A stalwart in African football, the Cameroon football team 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 Africa Cup of Nations 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.

However, the Indomitable Lions, despite having a formidable team and a rich history, won't be hopping on the jet next year to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is to be held in the US, Canada & Mexico. They had an underwhelming qualification campaign where they won only 3 out of the 7 matches & lost to giant killers DR Congo. A certain section of fans also blamed their underperforming star players, Bryan Mbeumo and Andre Onana, for failing to qualify for the footballing showpiece. Provided they perform extremely well in the 2025 AFCON, they will not climb higher than 10th.

9. South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is home to clubs like Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and Mamelodi Sundowns. South Africa is gradually making its presence felt in the international scenario. Bafana Bafana have clinched a spot in the next year's FIFA World Cup in 2026. The country that hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2010 is currently ranked 9th 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. Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana finished the CAF World Cup Qualification at the top of Group C with 18 points.

8. Cape Verde

Slowly made their strides to acclaim themselves as one of the best African football team on the back of a historic 2026 CAF World Cup Qualification campaign. The Blues Sharks topped Group D, picking a stellar 23 points tally in a total of 10 matches across the campaign. The Tiny Island country with a half-million population finished above the 2nd place Cameroon in the World Cup qualification. The 71st FIFA-ranked country Cape Verde, has lost only one match in 2025, recording an overall win percentage of 50%. Cape Verde has qualified for the African Cup of Nations four times from 2013, 2015, 2021 and 2023 editions.

7. Nigeria

Once the best African soccer teams, 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 finished 2nd behind South Africa in Group C and had to take part in play-offs to seal their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Unfortunately, we won't be able to see the likes of Victor Boniface, Osimhen and Lookman as the Nigeria National Football Team won't be playing the 2026 World Cup after losing to DR Congo in a dramatic penalty shootout.

6. Tunisia

Tunisia's football team, nicknamed the Eagles of Carthage, won its first and only African Cup of Nations trophy in 2004. They are currently enjoying a fine moment, having completed a perfect campaign CAF World Cup qualification, securing 28 points. They are one of the best football team in Africa and historically, they have been a competitive team. In the recent AFCON qualifiers, they ended as Group A runners-up to Comoros. Notably, this year Tunisia have played eight games and lost only once, winning the rest in style.

5. Cote d’Ivoire

The world will forever be indebted to Cote d’Ivoire for gifting legendary footballers like Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, and Gervinho, who featured at the topmost level in the sport. Ivory Coast are the three-time AFCON winners, who won the competition as recently as 2024. They ended the 2024 AFCON campaign as Group G runners-up and eventually claimed the trophy after beating Nigeria 2-1 in the AFCON final, thanks to Sebastian Haller and Franck Kessié, to claim their third continental success. The Elephants will make their 4th appearance in the FIFA World Cup in 2026 as they have qualified for the footballing showpiece as Group F winners during the qualifiers.

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 emerged as one of the best football team in Africa. The Greens have won the AFCON twice in 1990 and 2019; they emerged Group E winners in the previous continental campaign. They have featured in the FIFA World Cup four times, with their last appearance coming in 2014, and return to the 2026 World Cup after winning Group G in the CAF World Cup Qualification.

3. Egypt

The Pharaohs have been the most successful team in the history of African football. A record seven-time African champions, claiming the AFCON trophy more than any other best football team in Africa. Their dominance has been ever-present since the 1950s to the modern generation. However, they have only featured in three FIFA World Cups in 1934, 1990, and 2018. Captained by Liverpool star winger Mohamed Salah, they topped Group C in the 2024 AFCON campaign. Egypt have qualified for the next World Cup after a stellar CAF WC Qualification campaign recently.

2. Senegal

Although fans might view this as controversial, but in recent times the Senegal football team have stamped their authority in world football and is one of the best African soccer teams ranked second by FIFA rankings in the CAF category. The Lions of Teranga have won the AFCON competition only once, back in 2021. They first qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and, since then, have made their presence felt in 2018 and 2022. Following an excellent performance in the CAF WC Qualification, they have confirmed their place in the 2026 World Cup as well.

1. Morocco

The best football team in Africa currently is the Moroccan National Football Team, which has not lost a single game in 2025 and has 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 the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where they handed an upset to Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal. This was also their most successful campaign as they ended fourth, losing out to Croatia in the bronze medal game.

The Atlas Lions have maintained their stunning form throughout the 2025 calendar year, securing the 2026 World Cup qualification. Moreover, Morocco's U20 side was crowned the U20 World Champions after beating heavyweights Argentina U20 in Chile recently, showing their quality as a team across all levels.

Best African Football Teams: Honorary Mentions

Here are some of the best African teams that have impressed everyone with their achievements and gameplay recently. Let's have a look at some of the emerging teams on the continent.

DR Congo

DR Congo has maintained an impressive form throughout 2025, winning 11 of 14 matches across all international formats. Led by captain and defender Chancel Mbemba, forward Cedric Bakambu, along with defenders Arthur Masuaku & Aaron Wan-Bissaka, forward Yoane Wissa, the Sebastien Desabre's side plays with an unwavering grit & determination. Ranked 28th in the world, the Leopards will hope to book one of the final two spots for the African teams by winning the play-offs. If they manage to do that and put on a decent showing in the World Cup afterwards, then they can for sure make their entry into the top 10 African football teams.

After finishing 2nd behind Senegal in the qualifiers, the Leopards qualified for the playoffs, where they defeated Cameroon and then, in an epic penalty shootout, defeated Nigeria. They have kept their hope of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive, provided they win the inter-confederation play-offs in March next year.

Morocco U-20 National Team

When the CAF Awards 2025 were announced, everyone was shocked as the award for the men's best teams was given to the junior team of Atlas Lions, also known as the Atlas Cubs. The young Atlas Lions, fresh from Olympic bronze and CHAN triumph, edged out senior powerhouses thanks to their sensational 2024-25 run, proving that fearless, homegrown talent can eclipse even the continent’s most decorated clubs and cement Morocco’s rising dominance in African football.