Top 10 African National Teams' Historic Moments of All Time

Brief Summary

• The top 10 African national football teams are selected based on AFCON victories, FIFA World Cup performances, and historic milestones.
• We see some legendary moments, from Egypt’s three consecutive AFCON titles to Morocco’s 2022 World Cup semifinal run.
• Teams like Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon have also played a central role in shaping the cultural identity of African football.\

Deep Dive!!

Monday, September 1—When the question about some of the top African national teams arises, what comes to mind is the number of trophies won, which is fair enough, but success has several facets. 

In this article, we discuss the top 10 African national teams in terms of African Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophies won, in addition to FIFA World Cup tournament accomplishments, historic moments, and cultural impact.

10. DR Congo / Zaire (1968–1974)

Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), were trailblazers, becoming the first sub-Saharan African nation to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 1994. The national team also won the Africa Cup of Nations twice (1968 and 1974). 

In 1968, they played against the host country, Ghana, under the name Congo-Kinshasa (before changing to Zaire, and now DR Congo), defeating them in the finals and winning their first AFCON. Their second trophy followed in 1974, when they played under the name Zaire and defeated Zambia in a finals replay. With its impressive performances and significant international success, this era is regarded as one of the best in Congolese football history.

9. South Africa (1996)

The South African national team, Bafana Bafana, won the 1996 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, after defeating Tunisia 2-0 in their home final. Even though it is the only AFCON trophy they have managed to win to date, it was really significant as it was their debut in the competition, and the late President Nelson Mandela was present to witness this historic victory. It was clearly a representation of national unity after apartheid.

The team proceeded to qualify for the FIFA World Cup the following year with this win, propelling their FIFA ranking.

8. Côte d’Ivoire (2015)

The Côte d’Ivoire national team, after a 23-year wait, finally won their second AFCON trophy in 2015. Their final game was against Ghana, which ended in a tense goalless draw, and they headed into a penalty shootout. 

They secured a 9-8 victory on penalties in the final, played in Equatorial Guinea. The victory was historic as goalkeeper Boubacar Barry scored the winning penalty, reminiscent of their 1992 final win against the same opponent.

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7. Ghana (1960s–1982)

Ghana’s national team had a tremendous run during this period, achieving significant success. Ghana won the African Cup of Nations four times (1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982). They also finished second in the AFCON in 1968 and 1970. Their dominance from the 1960s to 1982 cemented their position in African football and created the Black Stars identity, which is still very much relevant today.

6. Algeria (2019)

Algeria’s 2019 national team won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy, making it their second continental championship and their first since 1990. Baghdad Bounedjah sneaked in a goal against Senegal, and it was more than enough to seal the victory. What was most significant about the tournament was remaining undefeated all through, elevating their status as champions of Africa.

5. Senegal (2002 & 2021/22)

Senegal’s 2002 quarterfinals appearance at the FIFA World Cup is worth mentioning on this list, since it was one of the team’s noteworthy accomplishments. They also won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2022. 

In the opening match of their 2002 World Cup debut, Senegal thrilled fans by defeating the defending champions, France and had an incredible run up until the quarterfinals at Korea/Japan.

In the AFCON 2021, which was played in 2022, Senegal won the penalty shootout for the first time ever after a penalty shootout victory against Egypt.

READ MORE: Giant Slayers: How African Teams Defied Odds at the FIFA World Cup

4. Nigeria (1994) 

The 1994 Nigerian national football team won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and headed to their first-ever FIFA World Cup. During the competition, they played their heart out, survived the group stage, but were unfortunately eliminated at the Round of 16 by Italy in a 2-1 defeat.

What makes the Super Eagles’ 1994 ride more awesome is setting a new FIFA ranking for an African side by placing 5th.

3. Morocco (2022)

When you hear Morocco in 2022, your mind immediately travels to their historic FIFA World Cup run in Qatar. Morocco’s magical run ended in the semifinals, making them not just the first African, but also the first Arab team to achieve this feat. In the course of their achievement, they defeated European giants like Spain and Portugal. This incredible run was celebrated across the continent, proving how far an African team could go in an international competition.

2. Cameroon (1990)

Cameroon became the first African country to achieve the incredible feat of reaching the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup in 1990. With the historic 1-0 goal from François Omam-Biyik, they famously overcame the reigning champions Argentina in the first game. 

Veteran Roger Milla also scored two goals later in the competition in extra time to help them defeat Colombia. The Indomitable Lions captivated the world with this upbeat and surprising performance, making it a historic run.

1. Egypt (2006–2010)

The Egyptian national team won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) three consecutive times during this period (2006, 2008, and 2010). This accomplishment was so unprecedented, elevating their status to become the most successful team on the continent. This historic accomplishment made them the first team to win three consecutive AFCON titles. In 2010, they also achieved their highest FIFA rating of ninth in the world.