Top 25 Football Nations of All-Time (Africa)

1. Egypt
2. Nigeria
3. Ghana
4. Cameroon
5. Morocco
6. Tunisia
7. Ivory Coast
8. Algeria
9. Zambia
10. Democratic Republic of the Congo
11. Senegal
12. Sudan
13. South Africa
14. Guinea
15. Ethiopia
16. Mali
17. Burkina Faso
18. Republic of the Congo
19. Uganda
20. Kenya
21. Togo
22. Angola
23. Zimbabwe
24. Libya
25. Gabon

 

Both actually quite similar, they are among the best teams of the last couple decades. However, South Africa belong 'more' amongst the elite teams in Africa.
South Africa have had great success in the second half of the 90s.and the early 00s, after they won their first Africa cup of Nations title on home soil and as runners-up in 1998, that qualified also for the World Cup and for the second consecutive time in 2002, as well finished third at the African Cup of Nations 2000. After that, disappointment that marked the end of a golden era and lacked the consistency to be a major threat in the continent as before. Start in again, hosted the Confederations Cup in 2009 and actually did pretty well then first-round elimination as the hosts as they finished level on points with Mexico at the 2010 World Cup. They are the hosts once again and are expected to do well at the African Cup of Nations 2013, they've reached the quarter-finals but lost on penalties to Mali.

Something similar was happening with Senegal, their best national side ever during the first half of the 2000s. They had a terrific World-Cup reached the quarter-finals of a global tournament with a dazzling performance. Also all their performance at the African Cup of Nations during that period were the majority an overly impressive, some serious bad luck for the Senegalese here as they made it to the quarter-finals in 2000, 2004 and the semi-finals 2006 facing three times the hosts and quite very unlucky as well in losing on a penalty shoot-out for the title in 2002. They also fought for automatic qualifying spot in 2005 and lost a World Cup qualifying playoff to Ivory Coast in 2013, still a constant force to date within African football that had a fine tournament overall at the African Cup of Nations 2017.

Having said all that, South Africa have accomplished more and been slightly better than Senegal during that time period.
South Africa did return to play in 1992 that may have suffered as a whole result from not playing african competitions (the South African clubs too).

On the other hand, some useful results were achieved by Senegal that helped them edge over South Africa in general.
AFCONs
Two Semi-Finalist 1965 & 1990
Qualify for the final stage 1968 & 1986, an eight-team tournament (8 best teams of the continent)
Quarter-Finalist 1992 playing as host & 1994
WCQ 1970
Battling hard fought with Morocco (who have qualified for the WC as african representative) in a two-legged affair, both finished level on points and a play-off was played in neutral Spain.

 

It is historical list about the hundred years, you may add the Olympic participations as well.

Evaluation system
1st place: 4 pts
Top 2: 3 pts
Top 4: 2 pts
Top 8: 1 pts
Top 16: 0.5 pts

Egypt
1st place: 1920Olympic, 1924Olympic, 1928Olympic, 1934WC, 1936Olympic, 1948Olympic, 1952Olympic, 1954WC(Q), 1956Olympic(Q), 1957AFCON, 1959AFCON, 1960Olympic, 1964Olympic, 1984Olympic 1986AFCON, 1998AFCON, 2006AFCON, 2008AFCON, 2010AFCON
Top 2: 1962AFCON, 1978WC(Q), 1980Olympic (boycott), 1990WC, 2017AFCON
Top 4: 1963AFCON, 1970AFCON, 1974AFCON, 1976AFCON, 1980AFCON, 1984AFCON
Top 8: 1982WC(Q), 1986WC(Q), 1988AFCON, 1990AFCON, 1992AFCON, 1994AFCON, 1996AFCON, 1998WC(Q), 2000AFCON, 2002AFCON, 2010WC(Q), 2014WC(Q)
Top 16: 1972Olympic(Q), 1974WC(Q), 1976Olympic(Q), 1988Olympic(Q), 1994WC(Q), 2002WC(Q), 2004AFCON, 2006WC(Q)

WC & WCQ = (21 pts)
AFCON = 53.5 pts (26.75 pts), half of the points because it is held every two years so should be equal with World Cup qualification every four years
Olympic 1920-1952 = (24 pts)
Olympic 1956-1988 = 20.5 pts (10.25 pts)
Total = 82 pts

Nigeria
1st place: 1980AFCON, 1994WC, 1994AFCON, 1998WC, 2013AFCON
Top 2: 1970WC(Q), 1980Olympic, 1984AFCON, 1988AFCON, 1990AFCON, 2000AFCON, 2014WC
Top 4: 1962WC(Q), 1968Olympic, 1976AFCON, 1976Olympic(Q), 1978WC(Q), 1978AFCON, 1982WC(Q), 1984Olympic(Q), 1988Olympic, 1992AFCON, 2002WC, 2002AFCON, 2004AFCON, 2006AFCON, 2010WC, 2010AFCON
Top 8: 1960Olympic(Q), 1963AFCON, 1964Olympic(Q), 1974WC(Q), 1982AFCON, 1986WC(Q), 1990WC(Q), 2006WC(Q), 2008AFCON
Top 16: -

WC & WCQ = (28 pts)
AFCON = 41 pts (20.5 pts)
Olympic 1956-1988 = 13 pts (6.5 pts)
Confederations Cup = 2 pts (forth place)
Total = 57 pts

Ghana
1st place: 1963AFCON, 1965AFCON, 1968Olympic, 1978AFCON, 1982AFCON, 2006WC, 2010WC
Top 2: 1962WC(Q), 1964Olympic, 1968AFCON, 1970AFCON, 1972Olympic, 1976Olympic(Q), 1980Olympic (boycott), 1992AFCON, 2010AFCON, 2015AFCON
Top 4: 1970WC(Q), 1974WC(Q), 1988Olympic(Q), 1996AFCON, 2008AFCON, 2012AFCON, 2013AFCON, 2014WC, 2017AFCON
Top 8: 1960Olympic(Q), 1980AFCON, 1984AFCON, 1986WC(Q), 1994AFCON, 2000AFCON, 2002AFCON
Top 16: 1978WC(Q), 1984Olympic(Q), 1994WC(Q), 1998AFCON, 2002WC(Q), 2006AFCON

WC & WCQ = (18.5 pts)
AFCON = 47 pts (23.5 pts)
Olympic 1956-1988 = 19.5 pts (9.75)
Total = 51.75 pts

Cameroon
1st place: 1984AFCON, 1988AFCON, 1990WC, 2000AFCON, 2002AFCON, 2017AFCON
Top 2: 1982WC, 1984Olympic, 1986AFCON, 1994WC, 2008AFCON
Top 4: 1972AFCON, 1972Olympic(Q), 1992AFCON, 1998WC, 2002WC
Top 8: 1968Olympic, 1970AFCON, 1974WC(Q), 1982AFCON, 1988Olympic(Q), 1990AFCON, 1998AFCON, 2004AFCON, 2006WC(Q), 2006AFCON, 2010WC, 2010AFCON, 2014WC
Top 16: 1970WC(Q), 1978WC(Q), 1986WC(Q), 1996AFCON, 2015AFCON

WC & WCQ = (19.5 pts)
AFCON = 38 pts (19 pts)
Olympic 1956-1988 = 7 pts (3.5 pts)
Confederations Cup = 3 pts (final)
Total = 45 pts

Nigeria has the best overall performance in the WC & WCQ, followed by Morocco (23 pts), Egypt comes third.
Someone would say Cameroon, most WC presence and made it once to the quarter-finals, I would say it need a much better classification of teams.
For example, Nigeria have qualified for the World Cup five times and finish second round in three, but also had attempted to qualify in eight other times (that's more than half) and failed, they have been competitive as well during 1962, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 2006. Sometimes, there's a thin line of reaching, like when they were level on points with Angola (2006WCQ), making it to the final rounds (1978WCQ) or when they were only one point short (1970WCQ), so being always competitive is immense value here and it means more bonus points.
Egypt was also highly competitive, they have qualified twice and had attempted to qualify at least seven other times and failed in 1978, 1982, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014, mostly they were knocked out by the golden generations of e.g. Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal.
Ghana have qualified three times and narrowly missed in 1962 as well attempted several times in 1970, 1974, 1986, 1978 (a strange format! one year later african champs) and 1994WCQ also because they were in excellent form made the AFCON final.
Cameroon made the best possible, they have qualified for the World Cup seven times and failed 'real' attempt only twice 1974 & 2006, that's about 75% of long term World Cup Qualifiers success.
For analyzing the performance of the African Cup of Nations, Egypt has the best overall, followed by Ghana and Nigeria comes third.
The Olympic football tournaments lost its importance by the world standards during the post-50s, though the African and the Asian teams take it all that seriously (unlike the Western European and the South Americans), until its for under 23 teams from 1992 onwards.

If it is about the numbers of achievements and WC appearances it's easy to pick, Cameroon are leading.

 

Top 25 Football Nations of All-Time (Africa)

1. Egypt
2. Nigeria
3. Ghana
4. Cameroon
5. Morocco
6. Tunisia
7. Algeria
8. Ivory Coast
9. Senegal
10. Zambia
11. Democratic Republic of the Congo
12. Sudan
13. South Africa
14. Guinea
15. Ethiopia
16. Mali
17. Uganda
18. Republic of the Congo
19. Burkina Faso
20. Kenya
21. Togo
22. Libya
23. Angola
24. Zimbabwe
25. Malawi

 

Egypt
1st: 1920Olympic (participated), 1924Olympic (Quarter-final), 1928Olympic (Semi-final), 1934WC (First round/Round of 16), 1936Olympic (participated), 1948Olympic (Round of 16), 1952Olympic (Round of 16), 1954WC(Q), 1956Olympic(Q), 1957AFCON (Champions), 1959AFCON (Champions), 1960Olympic (Round of 16), 1964Olympic (Semi-final), 1984Olympic (Quarter-final), 1986AFCON (Champions), 1987AG (Champions), 1998AFCON (Champions), 2006AFCON (Champions), 2008AFCON (Champions), 2010AFCON (Champions)
Top 2: 1962AFCON (Runner-up), 1978WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1980Olympic (boycott), 1990WC (First round), 2017AFCON (Runner-up)
Top 4: 1963AFCON (Semi-final), 1970AFCON (Semi-final), 1973AG (Semi-final), 1974AFCON (Semi-final), 1976AFCON (Semi-final), 1980AFCON (Semi-final), 1984AFCON (Semi-final)
Top 8: 1978AG (First round/Quarter-final), 1982WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1986WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1988AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1990AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1994AFCON (Quarter-final), 1996AFCON (Quarter-final), 1998WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2000AFCON (Quarter-final), 2002AFCON (Quarter-final), 2010WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2014WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2018WC (First round)
Top 16: 1968AFCON(Q), 1972AFCON(Q), 1974WC(Q), 1982AFCON(Q), 1992AFCON (First round), 1994WC(Q), 2002WC(Q), 2004AFCON (First round), 2006WC(Q)
Top 32: 1978AFCON(Q), 2015AFCON(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 22 points (25.75)
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 27.5 points
Olympics & OQ: 22.75 points (37.9)
Confederations Cup: 0.5 points (1.4)
African Games: 1.75 points
Total: 94.4 points


Nigeria
1st: 1973AG (Champions), 1980AFCON (Champions), 1994AFCON (Champions), 1994WC (Round of 16), 1998WC (Round of 16), 2013AFCON (Champions)
Top 2: 1970WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1976Olympic(Q), 1978AG (Runner-up), 1980Olympic (Round of 16), 1984AFCON (Runner-up), 1988AFCON (Runner-up), 1990AFCON (Runner-up), 2000AFCON (Runner-up), 2014WC (Round of 16), 2018WC (First round)
Top 4: 1962WC(Q)/Last-eight), 1968Olympic (Round of 16), 1976AFCON (Semi-final), 1978WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1978AFCON (Semi-final), 1982WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1984Olympic(Q), 1988Olympic (Round of 16), 1992AFCON (Semi-final), 2002WC (First round), 2002AFCON (Semi-final), 2004AFCON (Semi-final), 2006AFCON (Semi-final), 2010WC (First round), 2010AFCON (Semi-final)
Top 8: 1960Olympic(Q), 1962AFCON(Q), 1963AFCON (Final round/Quarter-final), 1964Olympic(Q), 1982AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1986WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1990WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2006WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2008AFCON (Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1968AFCON(Q), 1974WC(Q), 1974AFCON(Q), 1986AFCON(Q)
Top 32: 1972AFCON(Q), 2012AFCON(Q), 2015AFCON(Q), 2017AFCON(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 30.5 points (38.9)
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 22.25 points
Olympics & OQ: 3.5 points (4.2)
Confederations Cup: 0.75 points (2.1)
African Games: 1.75 points
Western Africa competitions: 0.9 points
Total: 70.2 points


Ghana
1st: 1963AFCON (Champions), 1965AFCON (Champions), 1968Olympic (Round of 16), 1976Olympic(Q), 1978AFCON (Champions), 1982AFCON (Champions), 2006WC (Round of 16), 2010WC (Quarter-final)
Top 2: 1962WC(Q)/Last-eight), 1964Olympic (Quarter-final), 1968AFCON (Runner-up), 1970AFCON (Runner-up), 1980Olympic (boycott), 1992AFCON (Runner-up), 2010AFCON (Runner-up), 2015AFCON (Runner-up)
Top 4: 1972Olympic (Round of 16), 1973AG (Semi-final), 1974WC(Q)/Last-eight), 1978AG (Semi-final), 1988Olympic(Q), 1996AFCON (Semi-final), 2008AFCON (Semi-final), 2012AFCON (Semi-final), 2013AFCON (Semi-final), 2014WC (First round), 2017AFCON (Semi-final)
Top 8: 1960Olympic(Q), 1962AFCON(Q), 1970WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1980AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1984AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1986WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1994AFCON (Quarter-final), 2000AFCON (Quarter-final), 2002AFCON (Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1972AFCON(Q), 1974AFCON(Q), 1976AFCON(Q), 1978WC(Q), 1986AFCON(Q), 1990AFCON(Q), 1994WC(Q), 1998WC(Q), 1998AFCON (First round), 2002WC(Q), 2006AFCON (First round), 2018WC(Q)
Top 32: 1988AFCON(Q), 1990WC(Q), 2004AFCON(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 19.75 points (26.3)
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 25.5 points
Olympics & OQ: 4.75 points (5.6)
African Games: 1 points
Western Africa competitions: 1.5 points
Total: 60 points


Cameroon
1st: 1984AFCON (Champions), 1988AFCON (Champions), 1990WC (Quarter-final), 2000AFCON (Champions), 2002AFCON (Champions), 2017AFCON (Champions)
Top 2: 1982WC (First round), 1984Olympic (Round of 16), 1986AFCON (Runner-up), 1994WC (First round), 2008AFCON (Runner-up)
Top 4: 1972AFCON (Semi-final), 1987AG (Semi-final), 1992AFCON (Semi-final), 1998WC (First round), 2002WC (First round)
Top 8: 1968Olympic(Q), 1970AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1972Olympic(Q), 1974WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1978AG (First round/Quarter-final), 1982AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1988Olympic(Q), 1990AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1998AFCON (Quarter-final), 2004AFCON (Quarter-final), 2006WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2006AFCON (Quarter-final), 2010WC (First round), 2010AFCON (Quarter-final), 2014WC (First round)
Top 16: 1968AFCON(Q), 1970WC(Q), 1974AFCON(Q), 1976AFCON(Q), 1978WC(Q), 1980AFCON(Q), 1986WC(Q), 1994AFCON(Q), 1996AFCON (First round), 2015AFCON (First round), 2018WC(Q)
Top 32: 1978AFCON(Q), 2012AFCON(Q), 2013AFCON (First round)

World Cup & WCQ: 20 points (29.3)
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 20.6 points
Olympics & OQ: 1.5 points (1.7)
Confederations Cup: 1.5 points (4.3)
African Games: 0.75 points
Central Africa competitions: 0.9 points
Total: 57.7 points


Morocco
1st: 1962WC(Q)/Last-eight), 1970WC (First round/Round of 16), 1972Olympic (Quarter-final), 1976AFCON (Champions), 1986WC (First round/Round of 16)
Top 2: 1998WC (First round), 2004AFCON (Runner-up)
Top 4: 1960Olympic(Q), 1964Olympic (Round of 16), 1968Olympic(Q), 1974WC(Q)/Last-eight), 1980AFCON (Semi-final), 1982WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1984Olympic (Round of 16), 1986AFCON (Semi-final), 1988AFCON (Semi-final), 1994WC (First round), 2018WC (First round)
Top 8: 1963AFCON(Q), 1972AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1976Olympic(Q), 1978AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1988Olympic(Q), 1998AFCON (Quarter-final), 2002WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2017AFCON (Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1970AFCON(Q), 1978WC(Q), 1982AFCON(Q), 1984AFCON(Q), 1990WC(Q), 1992AFCON (First round), 2000AFCON (First round), 2002AFCON (First round), 2006WC(Q), 2006AFCON (First round), 2008AFCON (First round), 2012AFCON (First round), 2013AFCON (First round)
Top 32: 1990AFCON(Q), 1994AFCON(Q), 1996AFCON(Q), 2010WC(Q), 2010AFCON(Q), 2014WC(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 26 points (32.5)
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 12 points
Olympics & OQ: 4 points (4.4)
Total: 49 points


Tunisia
1st: 1978WC (First round/Round of 16), 2004AFCON (Champions)
Top 2: 1960Olympic (Round of 16), 1965AFCON (Runner-up), 1988Olympic (Round of 16), 1996AFCON (Runner-up)
Top 4: 1962WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1962AFCON (Semi-final), 1964Olympic(Q), 1970WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1978AFCON (Semi-final), 1986WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1990WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2000AFCON (Semi-final), 2006WC (First round), 2018WC (First round)
Top 8: 1963AFCON (Final round/Quarter-final), 1972Olympic(Q), 1974WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1982AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1987AG (First round/Quarter-final), 1998AFCON (Quarter-final), 1998WC (First round), 2002WC (First round), 2006AFCON (Quarter-final), 2008AFCON (Quarter-final), 2012AFCON (Quarter-final), 2014WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2015AFCON (Quarter-final), 2017AFCON (Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1968AFCON(Q), 1976AFCON(Q), 1984AFCON(Q), 1986AFCON(Q), 1990AFCON(Q), 1992AFCON(Q), 1994WC(Q), 1994AFCON (First round), 2002AFCON (First round), 2010WC(Q), 2010AFCON (First round), 2013AFCON (First round)
Top 32: 1982WC(Q), 1988AFCON(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 21.25 points (26.8)
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 14.6 points
Olympics & OQ: 2.25 points (2.7)
Confederations Cup: 0.25 points (0.7)
African Games: 0.25 points
Total: 45.1 points


Algeria
1st: 1978AG (Champions), 1980Olympic (Quarter-final), 1982WC (First round/Round of 16), 1990AFCON (Champions), 2014WC (Round of 16)
Top 2: 1980AFCON (Runner-up), 1986WC (First round)
Top 4: 1965AG (Semi-final), 1982AFCON (Semi-final), 1984AFCON (Semi-final), 1988AFCON (Semi-final), 1990WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2010AFCON (Semi-final)
Top 8: 1968Olympic(Q), 1968AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1973AG (First round/Quarter-final), 1978WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1984Olympic(Q), 1986AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1988Olympic(Q), 1994WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1996AFCON (Quarter-final), 2000AFCON (Quarter-final), 2004AFCON (Quarter-final), 2010WC (First round), 2015AFCON (Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1970WC(Q), 1970AFCON(Q), 1972AFCON(Q), 1974WC(Q), 1974AFCON(Q), 1978AFCON(Q), 1992AFCON (First round), 1998AFCON (First round), 2002AFCON (First round), 2013AFCON (First round), 2017AFCON (First round), 2018WC(Q)
Top 32: 1976AFCON(Q), 1994AFCON(Q), 1998WC(Q), 2002WC(Q), 2006WC(Q), 2006AFCON(Q), 2008AFCON(Q), 2012AFCON(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 18.25 points (23.8)
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 13.8 points
Olympics & OQ: 1.75 (2.2)
African Games: 1.75 points
Total: 41.7 points


Ivory Coast
1st: 1992AFCON (Champions), 2015AFCON (Champions)
Top 2: 2006AFCON (Runner-up), 2006WC (First round), 2010WC (First round), 2012AFCON (Runner-up)
Top 4: 1965AFCON (Semi-final), 1965AG (Semi-final), 1968AFCON (Semi-final), 1970AFCON (Semi-final), 1986AFCON (Semi-final), 1994AFCON (Semi-final), 2008AFCON (Semi-final), 2014WC (First round)
Top 8: 1974WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1974AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1978WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1980AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1984AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1987AG (First round/Quarter-final), 1988AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1990WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1990AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1994WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1998AFCON (Quarter-final), 2002WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2010AFCON (Quarter-final), 2013AFCON (Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1972AFCON(Q), 1976AFCON(Q), 1978AFCON(Q), 1986WC(Q), 1996AFCON (First round), 2000AFCON (First round), 2002AFCON (First round), 2017AFCON (First round), 2018WC(Q)
Top 32: 1998WC(Q), 2004AFCON(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 14.25 points (17)
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 18.8 points
African Games: 0.75 points
Western Africa competitions: 1 points
Total: 37.6 points


Senegal
1st: 2002WC (Quarter-final), 2018WC (First round)
Top 2: 2002AFCON (Runner-up)
Top 4: 1965AFCON (Semi-final), 1990AFCON (Semi-final), 2006AFCON (Semi-final)
Top 8: 1968AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1970WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1972Olympic(Q), 1976Olympic(Q), 1986AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1987AG (First round/Quarter-final), 1992AFCON (Quarter-final), 1994AFCON (Quarter-final), 2000AFCON (Quarter-final), 2004AFCON (Quarter-final), 2006WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2017AFCON (Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1970AFCON(Q), 1974AFCON(Q), 1978WC(Q), 1978AFCON(Q), 1984AFCON(Q), 1988AFCON(Q), 1994WC(Q), 1996AFCON(Q), 2008AFCON (First round), 2012AFCON (First round), 2014WC(Q), 2015AFCON (First round)
Top 32: 1972AFCON(Q), 1974WC(Q), 1976AFCON(Q), 1982WC(Q), 1982AFCON(Q), 1986WC(Q), 1998WC(Q), 1998AFCON(Q), 2010WC(Q), 2010AFCON(Q), 2013AFCON (First round)

World Cup & WCQ: 12.75 points (17.4)
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 11 points
Olympics & OQ: 0.5 points
African Games: 0.25 points
Western Africa competitions: 1.1 points
Total: 30.3 points


Zambia
1st: 1988Olympic (Quarter-final), 2012AFCON (Champions)
Top 2: 1974WC(Q)/Last-eight), 1974AFCON (Runner-up), 1994AFCON (Runner-up)
Top 4: 1976Olympic(Q), 1980Olympic (Round of 16), 1982AFCON (Semi-final), 1990AFCON (Semi-final), 1994WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1996AFCON (Semi-final)
Top 8: 1970WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1978WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1978AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1986WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1986AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1990WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1992AFCON (Quarter-final), 2010AFCON (Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1970AFCON(Q), 1972AFCON(Q), 1976AFCON(Q), 1980AFCON(Q), 1982WC(Q), 1998WC(Q), 1998AFCON (First round), 2000AFCON (First round), 2002WC(Q), 2002AFCON (First round), 2006WC(Q), 2006AFCON (First round), 2008AFCON (First round), 2010WC(Q), 2013AFCON (First round), 2014WC(Q), 2015AFCON (First round), 2018WC(Q)
Top 32: 1984AFCON(Q), 2004AFCON(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 12.5 points
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 13 points
Olympics & OQ: 2 points (2.7)
Southern Africa competitions: 1.1 points
Total: 29.3 points

 

Democratic Republic of the Congo
1st: 1968AFCON (Champions), 1974AFCON (Champions), 1974WC (First round/Round of 16)
Top 2: -
Top 4: 1972AFCON (Semi-final), 1998AFCON (Semi-final), 2015AFCON (Semi-final)
Top 8: 1965AFCON (Final round/Quarter-final), 1965AG (First round/Quarter-final), 1970AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1976Olympic(Q), 1976AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1982WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1988AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1992AFCON (Quarter-final), 1994AFCON (Quarter-final), 1996AFCON (Quarter-final), 2002AFCON (Quarter-final), 2006AFCON (Quarter-final), 2017AFCON (Quarter-final), 2018WC(Q),/Last-eight)
Top 16: 1980AFCON(Q), 1982AFCON(Q), 1986AFCON(Q), 1990WC(Q), 1990AFCON(Q), 2000AFCON (First round), 2002WC(Q), 2004AFCON (First round), 2006WC(Q), 2013AFCON (First round)
Top 32: 1994WC(Q), 1998WC(Q), 2008AFCON(Q), 2010WC(Q), 2010AFCON(Q), 2012AFCON(Q), 2014WC(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 8.5 points (10.3)
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 14.1 points
Olympics & OQ: 0.25 points
African Games: 0.25 points
Central Africa competitions: 0.25 points
Total: 25.2 points


Sudan
1st: 1958WC(Q), 1970AFCON (Champions)
Top 2: 1959AFCON (Runner-up), 1963AFCON (Runner-up), 1972Olympic (Round of 16)
Top 4: 1957AFCON (Semi-final), 1960Olympic(Q), 1970WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1976Olympic(Q)
Top 8: 1964Olympic(Q), 1965AFCON(Q), 1968Olympic(Q), 1972AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1976AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 2012AFCON (Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1968AFCON(Q), 1974WC(Q), 1980AFCON(Q), 1982WC(Q), 1984AFCON(Q), 1986WC(Q), 1988AFCON(Q), 1990AFCON(Q), 2002WC(Q), 2008AFCON (First round)
Top 32: 1974AFCON(Q), 1990WC(Q), 1992AFCON(Q), 1994AFCON(Q), 1996AFCON(Q), 1998WC(Q), 2002AFCON(Q), 2004AFCON(Q), 2006WC(Q), 2006AFCON(Q), 2010WC(Q), 2010AFCON(Q), 2013AFCON (First round), 2015AFCON(Q), 2017AFCON(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 9 points
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 10.1 points
Olympics & OQ: 2.25 points (2.4)
Eastern Africa competitions: 0.06 points
Total: 21.6 points


South Africa
1st: 1996AFCON (Champions)
Top 2: 1998AFCON (Runner-up), 2002WC (First round)
Top 4: 1998WC (First round), 2000AFCON (Semi-final), 2010WC (First round)
Top 8: 2002AFCON (Quarter-final), 2013AFCON (Quarter-final)
Top 16: 2004AFCON (First round), 2006WC(Q), 2006AFCON (First round), 2008AFCON (First round), 2014WC(Q), 2015AFCON (First round), 2018WC(Q)
Top 32: 1994WC(Q), 1994AFCON(Q), 2010AFCON(Q), 2012AFCON(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 8.75 points (11.5)
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 6.8 points
Confederations Cup: 0.75 points (2.1)
Southern Africa competitions: 0.25 points
Total: 20.8 points


Guinea
1st: -
Top 2: 1968Olympic (Round of 16), 1973AG (Runner-up), 1976AFCON (Runner-up)
Top 4: 1978WC(Q),/Last-eight)
Top 8: 1963AFCON(Q), 1965AFCON(Q), 1970AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1974AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1980AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1982WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1994WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1998WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2004AFCON (Quarter-final), 2006AFCON (Quarter-final), 2008AFCON (Quarter-final), 2015AFCON (Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1968AFCON(Q), 1972AFCON(Q), 1974WC(Q), 1978AFCON(Q), 1982AFCON(Q), 1986WC(Q), 1994AFCON (First round), 1998AFCON (First round), 2006WC(Q), 2012AFCON (First round), 2014WC(Q)
Top 32: 1984AFCON(Q), 1986AFCON(Q), 1988AFCON(Q), 1990WC(Q), 1990AFCON(Q), 1992AFCON(Q), 1996AFCON(Q), 2000AFCON(Q), 2002WC(Q), 2002AFCON(Q), 2010WC(Q), 2010AFCON(Q), 2013AFCON (First round), 2017AFCON(Q), 2018WC(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 8 points
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 9.1 points
Olympics & OQ: 0.75 points (0.9)
African Games: 0.75 points
Western Africa competitions: 0.1 points
Total: 19 points


Ethiopia
1st: 1962AFCON (Champions)
Top 2: 1956Olympic(Q), 1957AFCON (Runner-up)
Top 4: 1959AFCON (Semi-final), 1963AFCON (Semi-final), 1968AFCON (Semi-final), 1972Olympic(Q)
Top 8: 1960Olympic(Q), 1962WC(Q)Last-eight), 1964Olympic(Q), 1965AFCON (Final round/Quarter-final), 1968Olympic(Q), 1970WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1970AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1976AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1982AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1984Olympic(Q)
Top 16: 1974WC(Q), 1978AFCON(Q), 1984AFCON(Q), 2013AFCON (First round), 2014WC(Q)
Top 32: 1972AFCON(Q), 1974AFCON(Q), 1978WC(Q), 1980AFCON(Q), 1982WC(Q), 1986WC(Q), 1988AFCON(Q), 1990AFCON(Q), 1992AFCON(Q), 1994WC(Q), 1994AFCON(Q), 1996AFCON(Q), 1998AFCON(Q), 2002WC(Q), 2004AFCON(Q), 2015AFCON(Q), 2017AFCON(Q), 2018WC(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 3.75 points
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 8.75 points
Olympics & OQ: 1.75 points
Eastern Africa competitions: 0.1 points
Total: 14.3 points


Mali
1st: -
Top 2: 1965AG (Runner-up), 1972AFCON (Runner-up)
Top 4: 1994AFCON (Semi-final), 2002AFCON (Semi-final), 2004AFCON (Semi-final), 2012AFCON (Semi-final), 2013AFCON (Semi-final)
Top 8: 1972Olympic(Q), 1978AG (First round/Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1965AFCON(Q), 1968AFCON(Q), 1970AFCON(Q), 1974AFCON(Q), 1978AFCON(Q), 1982AFCON(Q), 1990AFCON(Q), 2008AFCON (First round), 2010WC(Q), 2010AFCON (First round), 2015AFCON (First round), 2017AFCON (First round)
Top 32: 1976AFCON(Q), 1984AFCON(Q), 1986AFCON(Q), 1992AFCON(Q), 1996AFCON(Q), 1998AFCON(Q), 2000AFCON(Q), 2002WC(Q), 2006WC(Q), 2006AFCON(Q), 2014WC(Q), 2018WC(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 1.5 points
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 10.1 points
Olympics & OQ: 0.25 points
African Games: 1 points
Western Africa competitions: 0.2 points
Total: 13.1 points


Uganda
1st: -
Top 2: 1978AFCON (Runner-up)
Top 4: 1962AFCON (Semi-final)
Top 8: 1960Olympic(Q), 1965AG (First round/Quarter-final), 1968AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1974AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1976AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1978WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1988Olympic(Q), 2018WC(Q),/Last-eight)
Top 16: 1965AFCON(Q), 1970AFCON(Q), 1988AFCON(Q), 2017AFCON (First round)
Top 32: 1972AFCON(Q), 1984AFCON(Q), 1986WC(Q), 1986AFCON(Q), 1990WC(Q), 1992AFCON(Q), 1994AFCON(Q), 1996AFCON(Q), 1998AFCON(Q), 2000AFCON(Q), 2002AFCON(Q), 2004AFCON(Q), 2006WC(Q), 2006AFCON(Q), 2008AFCON(Q), 2010WC(Q), 2010AFCON(Q), 2012AFCON(Q), 2013AFCON (First round), 2014WC(Q), 2015AFCON(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 3.25 points
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 7 points
Olympics & OQ: 0.5 points
African Games: 0.25 points
Eastern Africa competitions: 1.3 points
Total: 12.3 points


Republic of the Congo
1st: 1965AG (Champions), 1972AFCON (Champions)
Top 2: -
Top 4: 1974AFCON (Semi-final)
Top 8: 1968AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1973AG (First round/Quarter-final), 1978AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1992AFCON (Quarter-final), 2015AFCON (Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1976AFCON(Q), 1978WC(Q), 1980AFCON(Q), 1984AFCON(Q), 1998WC(Q), 2000AFCON (First round), 2014WC(Q)
Top 32: 1974WC(Q), 1982AFCON(Q), 1986AFCON(Q), 1988AFCON(Q), 1994WC(Q), 1994AFCON(Q), 1996AFCON(Q), 1998AFCON(Q), 2002WC(Q), 2002AFCON(Q), 2004AFCON(Q), 2006WC(Q), 2006AFCON(Q), 2008AFCON(Q), 2010WC(Q), 2010AFCON(Q), 2017AFCON(Q), 2018WC(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 3 points
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 7.5 points
African Games: 1.25 points
Central Africa competitions: 0.4 points
Total: 12.1 points


Burkina Faso
1st: -
Top 2: 2013AFCON (Runner-up)
Top 4: 1998AFCON (Semi-final), 2017AFCON (Semi-final)
Top 8: 1973AG (First round/Quarter-final), 1978AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 2010WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2014WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2018WC(Q),/Last-eight)
Top 16: 1978WC(Q), 1982AFCON(Q), 1996AFCON (First round), 2000AFCON (First round), 2002WC(Q), 2002AFCON (First round), 2004AFCON (First round), 2006WC(Q), 2010AFCON (First round), 2012AFCON (First round), 2015AFCON (First round)
Top 32: 1968AFCON(Q), 1974AFCON(Q), 1990WC(Q), 1990AFCON(Q), 1992AFCON(Q), 1998WC(Q), 2006AFCON(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 5 points
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 6.3 points
African Games: 0.25 points
Western Africa competitions: 0.06 points
Total: 11.6 points


Kenya
1st: -
Top 2: 1987AG (Runner-up)
Top 4: -
Top 8: 1962AFCON(Q), 1972AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1974WC(Q),/Last-eight), 1988AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1990AFCON (First round/Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1963AFCON(Q), 1965AFCON(Q), 1978WC(Q), 1978AFCON(Q), 1980AFCON(Q), 1986WC(Q), 1986AFCON(Q), 1990WC(Q), 1992AFCON (First round), 1994WC(Q), 1994AFCON(Q), 1998WC(Q), 2004AFCON (First round)
Top 32: 1968AFCON(Q), 1970AFCON(Q), 1974AFCON(Q), 1976AFCON(Q), 1982WC(Q), 1982AFCON(Q), 1998AFCON(Q), 2000AFCON(Q), 2002AFCON(Q), 2006WC(Q), 2006AFCON(Q), 2008AFCON(Q), 2010WC(Q), 2010AFCON(Q), 2012AFCON(Q), 2014WC(Q), 2015AFCON(Q), 2018WC(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 4.75 points
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 5.5 points
African Games: 0.75 points
Eastern Africa competitions: 0.6 points
Total: 11.6 points


Togo
1st: -
Top 2: -
Top 4: -
Top 8: 1965AG (First round/Quarter-final), 1972AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 1984AFCON (First round/Quarter-final), 2006WC (First round), 2013AFCON (Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1976AFCON(Q), 1978WC(Q), 1980AFCON(Q), 1982WC(Q), 1998WC(Q), 1998AFCON (First round), 2000AFCON (First round), 2002AFCON (First round), 2006AFCON (First round), 2010WC(Q), 2010AFCON (First round), 2017AFCON (First round)
Top 32: 1968AFCON(Q), 1970AFCON(Q), 1974WC(Q), 1978AFCON(Q), 1982AFCON(Q), 1986AFCON(Q), 1988AFCON(Q), 1992AFCON(Q), 1994WC(Q), 1996AFCON(Q), 2002WC(Q), 2004AFCON(Q), 2015AFCON(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 3.75 points (4.6)
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 4.75 points
African Games: 0.25 points
Western Africa competitions: 0.6 points
Total: 10.3 points


Libya
1st: -
Top 2: 1982AFCON (Runner-up)
Top 4: 1986WC(Q),/Last-eight)
Top 8: 1978AG (First round/Quarter-final), 1980Olympic(Q), 1984Olympic(Q)
Top 16: 1970WC(Q), 1980AFCON(Q), 1982WC(Q), 1986AFCON(Q), 1990WC(Q), 2006AFCON (First round), 2012AFCON (First round), 2014WC(Q)
Top 32: 1968AFCON(Q), 1972AFCON(Q), 1976AFCON(Q), 1978WC(Q), 1978AFCON(Q), 1984AFCON(Q), 2002WC(Q), 2002AFCON(Q), 2004AFCON(Q), 2006WC(Q), 2008AFCON(Q), 2010WC(Q), 2010AFCON(Q), 2013AFCON (First round), 2017AFCON(Q), 2018WC(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 5.25 points
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 3.8 points
Olympics & OQ: 0.5 points
African Games: 0.25 points
Total: 9.8 points

Angola
1st: -
Top 2: -
Top 4: 2006WC (First round)
Top 8: 1998WC(Q),/Last-eight), 2008AFCON (Quarter-final), 2010AFCON (Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1986WC(Q), 1988AFCON(Q), 1990WC(Q), 1996AFCON (First round), 1998AFCON (First round), 2002WC(Q), 2006AFCON (First round), 2012AFCON (First round), 2013AFCON (First round)
Top 32: 1982AFCON(Q), 1984AFCON(Q), 1990AFCON(Q), 1992AFCON(Q), 1994WC(Q), 2000AFCON(Q), 2002AFCON(Q), 2004AFCON(Q), 2010WC(Q), 2014WC(Q), 2015AFCON(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 5.25 points (6.1)
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 3.5 points
Southern Africa competitions: 0.1 points
Total: 9.8 points


Zimbabwe
1st: -
Top 2: -
Top 4: -
Top 8: 1984Olympic(Q), 1994WC(Q),/Last-eight)
Top 16: 1970WC(Q), 1982WC(Q), 1986AFCON(Q), 1988AFCON(Q), 1990WC(Q), 1990AFCON(Q), 1992AFCON(Q), 1994AFCON(Q), 1998WC(Q), 2002WC(Q), 2004AFCON (First round), 2006WC(Q), 2006AFCON (First round), 2017AFCON (First round)
Top 32: 1982AFCON(Q), 1984AFCON(Q), 1986WC(Q), 1996AFCON(Q), 1998AFCON(Q), 2000AFCON(Q), 2002AFCON(Q), 2008AFCON(Q), 2012AFCON(Q), 2013AFCON (First round)

World Cup & WCQ: 4.25 points
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 3.1 points
Olympics & OQ: 0.25 points
Southern Africa competitions: 0.4 points
Total: 8 points


Malawi
1st: -
Top 2: -
Top 4: 1978AG (Semi-final), 1987AG (Semi-final)
Top 8: 1984AFCON (First round/Quarter-final)
Top 16: 1986WC(Q), 1986AFCON(Q), 1988AFCON(Q), 1990WC(Q), 1990AFCON(Q), 2010WC(Q), 2010AFCON (First round)
Top 32: 1976AFCON(Q), 1978WC(Q), 1978AFCON(Q), 1980AFCON(Q), 1982WC(Q), 1982AFCON(Q), 1992AFCON(Q), 1994AFCON(Q), 1996AFCON(Q), 1998AFCON(Q), 2002WC(Q), 2006WC(Q), 2006AFCON(Q), 2008AFCON(Q), 2012AFCON(Q), 2013AFCON (First round), 2014WC(Q), 2015AFCON(Q)

World Cup & WCQ: 2.75 points
Africa Cup of Nations & AFCONQ: 3.1 points
African Games: 1 points
Eastern Africa competitions: 0.9 points
Total: 7.8 points

 

The standard of points system
1st: 4
Top 2: 3
Top 4: 2
Top 8: 1
Top 16: 0.5
Top 32: 0.25

Notes:
*At World Championships would certainly lead to an increase on the points, depend a lot on the type of achievement (Qualify, Round of 16, Quarter-final, Semi-final).


World Cup & WCQ (TOP 10)

1. Nigeria
2. Morocco
3. Cameroon
4. Tunisia
5. Ghana
6. Egypt
7. Algeria
8. Senegal
9. Ivory Coast
10. Zambia

Africa Cup of Nations (TOP 10)

1. Egypt
2. Ghana
3. Nigeria
4. Cameroon
5. Ivory Coast
6. Tunisia
7. Democratic Republic of the Congo
8. Algeria
9. Zambia
10. Morocco

Olympics (TOP 5)

1. Egypt
2. Ghana
3. Morocco
4. Nigeria
5. Tunisia