November 12, (THEWILL) – A new ranking of the top 10 African football clubs reveals that no Nigerian team made the cut. The Opta Power Rankings, which scores nearly 13,500 teams globally, found that clubs from northern Africa dominated the top spots.
The list was topped by South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, who boast an impressive 81.4 rating. They edged out Egyptian giants Al Ahly, the continent’s most decorated club with 11 CAF Champions League titles. Moroccan clubs Wydad Casablanca, Raja Club Athletic and AS FAR took third, fifth and sixth places respectively.
Meanwhile, east African sides Simba SC and Young Africans made the top 10, along with Tunisian club Étoile Sportive du Sahel. This highlights the strength of the northern, southern and eastern regions in African club football.
Historically, clubs from these countries have found more success in continental competitions. However, Nigeria has produced some of Africa’s best players. The absence of a Nigerian team emphasises the need to improve club structures and performance at the domestic level.
With African talent having an ever greater influence in Europe, there are hopes that interest and investment in Africa’s domestic leagues will grow. A more even spread of strong clubs throughout the continent would be good news for the sport and fans and players alike.
