By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Barely one week to the start of the 35th African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals holding in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, odds favour six countries that have consistently made the Top Four Teams in Africa from 1993 to date to lift the forthcoming biggest continental football fiesta.
Prompt News reports that top on the list of the six countries eyeing the AFCON title in Morocco in January are the host nation Morocco, defending champions Ivory Coast and West African neighbours Nigeria and Senegal as well as North African countries of Tunisia and Egypt respectively.
A closer look at the performances of the African teams both in the continent and globally since 1993 showed that Morocco is Africa’s Numero Uno (No.1) performing team alongside Senegal, if there performances in the continent in the last decade and most recently at the last FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022, are to be considered.
Morocco became the first African team to reach the knockout stage and, by extension, the semi-final stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar by taking the fourth place while Senegal made it the second round in Qatar.
However, both Morocco and Senegal boast of a record 6-time as historical leaders of Africa’s Men Top Four Teams at year-ending 1993 to 2024 while Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast have emerged Africa’s No.1 teams five-time respectively in the period under review.
Records showed that Morocco is currently leading other African countries in the Top Four Teams Chart in 2024, 2023, and 2022 after initially topping from 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively just as Senegal dominated as Africa’s No.1 for six consecutive years from 2016 to 2021.
Also, AFCON defending champion Ivory Coast and runner-up Nigeria as well as Cameroon have emerged as Africa’s No.1 teams five-time respectively with Nigeria ranking No.1 in 1993, 1994, 2004, 2006 and 2007, while Ivory Coast dominated in 1995, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015 respectively.
Cameroon led in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2009, respectively, while South Africa emerged Africa’s No.1 team twice in 1996 and 2000, just as Tunisia in 2001; Egypt in 2010 and Algeria in 2014 emerged as Africa’s No.1 teams within the period of 1993 to 2024.
Although the North African countries of Tunisia and Egypt have not dominated the historical leaders
Top Four Teams at Year-end Chart since 1993 to the present, they both pose a big threat to the likes of Morocco, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Senegal when the 2025 AFCON kicks off.
For the records, Tunisia has maintained Top Four Team 16 times as the closest remains Senegal with 13 Nigeria, Morocco, and Egypt 12 times as Ivory Coast came in 9 times respectively.
Other countries that have outside chances of challenging for the 35th AFCON title in Morocco are Algeria, DR Congo, Ghana and South Africa, although there will be surprises if the traditional teams fail to take the so-called minors seriously.
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