TOP 10 BEST LEAGUE IN AFRICA 2023
Football holds immense importance in Africa, serving as a powerful unifying force that fosters a shared sense of identity, unity, and pride. It strengthens social cohesion, brings communities together, and offers a platform for youth development and job opportunities.
With its substantial economic impact, global recognition of African talent, and contributions to education, health, and cultural expression, football plays a multifaceted role in African society. Beyond the field, it has the potential to address social and political issues, encourage infrastructure development, and promote positive diplomacy and international relations, making it an integral part of the continent's cultural fabric and social progress.
Football in Africa is thriving, reaching new levels of excellence in recent years. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has just released its list of the best football leagues in Africa for October 2023, giving us a glimpse of the exciting progress and accomplishments in African football.
1. EGYPTIAN
That's a valuable piece of information about the Egyptian Premier League. It demonstrates the rich history and competitive nature of the league, with Al Ahly's remarkable success in winning the title 43 times, making them the most successful club in the league's history. Zamalek's 14 titles indicate the enduring rivalry between these two clubs.
The fact that only a small number of other clubs have managed to win the league further emphasizes the dominance of Al Ahly and Zamalek. This history and context will make a great addition to your blog on the top football leagues in Africa. It showcases the importance of the Egyptian Premier League and the legacy of these football giants.
This league has also seen other prominent clubs like Ismaily SC, Al Mokawloon Al Arab, and Ghazl El Mahalla compete at a high level. Al Ahly's unparalleled dominance with a record number of league titles is a hallmark, while Egypt's strong football culture transcends into enthusiastic fan support and player development.
The league has contributed significantly to the Egyptian national team's success, and it continues to nurture talent, maintain a global reputation, and overcome challenges such as financial issues and security concerns, cementing its status as a cornerstone of African football.
The most popular Football Club in Egypt,
AL AHLY
Al Ahly Sporting Club, also known as Al Ahly, is a sports club in Cairo, Egypt. Their famous football team plays in the Egyptian Premier League, the top football league in Egypt. They are super successful both in their country and in African competitions.
They've won the Egyptian Premier League 43 times, the Egypt Cup 38 times, and the Egyptian Super Cup 13 times, making them the most successful club in Africa. On the international stage, they're even more impressive.
They've won the CAF Champions League 11 times, the CAF Confederation Cup once, and the CAF Super Cup eight times, which is also a record. They have four African Cup Winners' Cups, an Afro-Asian Club Championship, an Arab Club Champions Cup, and an Arab Cup Winners' Cup.
They've also clinched two Arab Super Cups and earned three bronze medals in the FIFA Club World Cup, giving them a total of 25 continental titles. They were even voted as the African club of the 20th century by CAF.
2. ALGERIA
The Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1, also known as Ligue 1, is the top football league in Algeria. It's where the best football clubs in the country compete. This league has 16 teams, and at the end of each season, the two teams that finish at the bottom get moved down to a lower division called Ligue 2. The top two teams from Ligue 2 then take their place in Ligue 1.
The league was created in 1962, which is when Algeria became its own country. Before that, there were only local leagues in cities like Algiers, Constantine, and Oran. They used to have some national playoffs in the early 1900s and later had a North African Championship with teams from Algeria when Morocco and Tunisia were not independent. In 2010, they decided to call it "Ligue Professionnelle 1" to show that it's a professional league, which means players are paid to play.
The most popular Football Club in Algeria,
CR Belouizdad
CR Belouizdad, commonly known as CRB, is a prominent Algerian football club based in Algiers, playing in the top-tier Ligue Professionnelle 1. Founded in 1962, shortly after Algeria's independence, CRB was the result of a merger between two local clubs, Widad Riadhi de Belcourt and Club Athéltique de Belcourt.
They have maintained a remarkable record of competing in the top division for 55 seasons, with only one brief stint in the second tier in 1988-1989. The club's home ground is the 20 August 1955 Stadium, and they are recognized by their white home kit with a distinctive red "V" on the front. CRB has a rich history, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s, winning a total of 10 major trophies in just 8 seasons.
This successful club has secured eight Algerian league titles, eight Algerian Cup victories, an Algerian League Cup, two Algerian Super Cups, and an impressive three Maghreb Champions Cup wins, although they haven't clinched an African title yet. In 2010, they transitioned into professional status, marking a new era for Algerian football.
3. MOROCCO
The Botola Pro, also known as the Moroccan professional league, is the main football competition in Morocco, featuring 16 clubs. It works with a promotion and relegation system with the Botola 2, the second division.
The season runs from August to May, and each team plays 30 matches (twice against every other team). Most games happen on weekends, usually in the afternoons. It used to be called Botola Maroc Telecom but is now sponsored by Inwi and called the Botola Pro Inwi. This league started in 1992 when clubs decided to break away from the UNAF and get a TV deal worth 55 million MAD per year.
They also earn 123 million MAD yearly from TV rights. Moroccan clubs have won seven CAF Champions League titles, the second most, and have the highest number of CAF Confederation Cup titles, with seven in total. The current champions are ASFAR, who won the 2022-23 season.
The most popular Football Club in Morocco,
WYDAD CASABLANCA
Wydad Casablanca, often called WAC, is a major sports club in Casablanca, Morocco. They are known for their top football team, which plays in the Botola, the highest Moroccan football league. Remarkably, they have never been relegated to a lower division. The club was founded in 1937 with a focus on water polo to grant Moroccans access to swimming pools. Later, they added a football section in 1939. Wydad wears red as their home kit.
In Morocco, Wydad is very successful, winning 22 Moroccan league titles, 9 Moroccan Throne Cups, and 4 Moroccan Elite Cups, making them the most decorated club in the country. On the international stage, they've secured three CAF Champions League titles, an African Cup Winners' Cup, a CAF Super Cup, an Afro-Asian Club Championship, a Mohammed V Cup, an Arab Club Champions Cup, an Arab Super Cup, three North African Championships, and a North African Cup.
Wydad isn't just about football; they also compete in basketball, handball, field hockey, cycling, volleyball, and rugby. They have intense rivalries, including the famous Casablanca Derby with Raja CA and the Moroccan Classico against AS FAR from the capital city.
4. SUDAN
The Sudan Premier League is Sudan's top professional football competition, featuring 18 teams that play each other twice in a season. It's the heart of Sudanese football, drawing passionate fans to stadiums.
The league has a rich history, producing talented players for international competitions. Successful teams may get to compete in African tournaments. However, like many African leagues, it faces challenges related to funding and development, but it remains an essential part of Sudan's football culture.
The most popular Football Club in Sudan,
AL-HILAL (Omdurman)
Al-Hilal is a football team in Sudan that has been a trailblazer in Sudanese football history. They were the first to play with shoes, having previously played barefoot.
They also introduced the concept of having fences around the fields and came up with a new playing method. Al-Hilal didn't just stay in Sudan; they played their first game outside their home region in Madani, and they even organized Sudan's first match where people had to buy tickets to watch.
They were also the first Sudanese team to play matches in another country, like Egypt. Beyond football, Al-Hilal did more - they started Sudan's first theater group and a music band, showing their impact on culture too.
5. TANZANIA
The Tanzanian Premier League has a long history. It all began in 1921 in Dar es Salaam. At first, it had only six teams, but by 1929, it grew a bit. In the 1930s, the league had street teams made up of Arabs and Africans, and even a Sudanese community team joined in 1941.
There were other unique teams too, like one made up entirely of Sikhs and another of Ilalan residents.After World War II, many teams with European players stopped playing, and teams like Gymkhana Club and Police Club withdrew.
Street teams like Young Africans (Yanga) and Sunderland (which later became Simba) took their place. Yanga, formed in 1938, entered the first division soon and won four major cups in 1942. Sunderland joined shortly after and also won four important trophies in 1946.By 1955, there were 38 registered clubs in the Dar es Salaam League. It became the "National League" by 1965, including most major teams in Tanzania.
It went through some name changes, becoming the "First Division Soccer League" and then the "Premier League" in 1997. Tanzania Breweries sponsored it for a while, and it was called the Tanzania Breweries League. Later, Vodacom became the sponsor in 2002, and they signed a new contract in 2009 after a break
The 2022–23 Tanzanian Premier League, known as the NBC Premier League due to sponsorship, marked the 58th season of this top-tier football competition in Tanzania. This league, limited to the mainland region, has been a prominent fixture since its establishment in 1965.
The season commenced on September 27, 2021, and came to a close with Young Africans S.C. earning their 29th premier league title, remarkably losing only two games throughout the season. This victory marked their second consecutive championship win. Notable performances included Congolese striker Fiston Kalala Mayele of Yanga S.C. and Burundian striker Saidi Ntibazonkiza of Simba S.C., who emerged as the top scorers of the season.
The most popular Football Club in Tanzania,
SIMBA
Simba Sports Club is a professional football team based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. They started back in 1936 with the name Queen but later changed to Sunderland. Finally, in 1971, they became Simba, which means "Lion" in Swahili.
They're known as "Wekundu wa Msimbazi" or "The Reds of Msimbazi" because of their all-red uniforms and their headquarters on Msimbazi Street in Kariakoo.Simba has been quite successful, winning 22 league titles and five domestic cups. They've also competed in the CAF Champions League many times. In East and Central Africa, they're considered one of the top clubs and have won the CECAFA Club Championship six times.
They play their home games at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Temeke District. In 2022, Simba had a super-fast-growing Instagram account, with 1.9 million followers, making it one of the fastest-growing football clubs on the platform.Simba is not only big in Africa but was even ranked 10th among the top clubs in the continent by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.
Globally, they were at number 105 in the IFFHS World Ranking. They're one of the richest clubs in East Africa, with a big budget. Simba has a strong rivalry with Yanga, and their matches are called the Kariakoo derby, named after the place where both clubs were founded. This derby is considered one of the most famous in Africa.
6. SOUTH AFRICA
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) in South Africa started in 1996 after a deal between two soccer leagues. It's still legally called the National Soccer League but goes by PSL for short.
Over the years, the league changed. In 2001–02, it went from 18 teams to 16 to have fewer games and avoid problems. Some teams like Ria Stars and Free State Stars had to stop playing, but Free State Stars came back in the 2020–21 season.
In 2004, there was a big problem with match-fixing called "Operation Dribble." Many people got arrested, including club bosses and referees. Still, teams like Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns won titles.
In 2007, PSL signed a big TV deal with SuperSport worth R 1.6 billion, making it one of the top leagues in the world for TV deals. ABSA also became the main sponsor that year, replacing Castle Lager.
As of May 2019, the league is ranked the 6th best in Africa.In the 2018–19 season, each club got R 2 million every month from TV and sponsors. The league winner got R 10 million.
In 2019, ABSA increased its sponsorship to R 39.9 million, which meant the league winners got R 15 million. But in 2020, ABSA stopped sponsoring the league.
On September 24, 2020, DStv became the new sponsor, so the league is now called the DStv Premiership. Showmax also started sponsoring SuperSport United F.C.'s jerseys.
The most popular Football Club in South Africa,
MAMELOD SUNDOWN
Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club, or simply Sundowns, is a successful soccer team in South Africa, based in Mamelodi, Pretoria. They play in the top-level league called the Premier Soccer League.
Sundowns has won many league titles and is one of the best clubs in South African soccer history. They've also done well in international competitions, winning the CAF Champions League in 2016 and the CAF Super Cup in 2017.
They're known for their exciting style of play, often called "Shoe Shine & Piano," which involves quick, skillful passing on the ground.The club is owned by a famous South African businessman named Patrice Motsepe and is one of the most valuable clubs in Africa.
In 2021, they made history by winning both the men's and women's CAF Champions League titles, a first for an African club.
7. ANGOLA
The Girabola, Angola's top football league, succeeded the "Campeonato do Estado Ultramarino de Angola." There was a hiatus between 1975 and 1979, and in 1979, the first post-independence edition began with 24 teams divided into groups.
In 1980, the competition included the top 13 teams from the previous season and Sagrada Esperança. It remained at 14 teams until 1990. In 1991 and 1992, 16 teams participated, but the civil war reduced the number to 12 in 1993 and 1994.
From 1995, the point system changed, with 3 points awarded for a win instead of the previous 2 points. Since 2010, the championship has consistently featured 16 teams.
The most popular Football Club in Angola,
1° DE AGOSTO
Clube Desportivo 1º de Agosto is a sports club from Luanda, Angola, founded on August 1, 1977. It's closely associated with the Angolan armed forces, which sponsor the club.
The team's primary sport is men's football, and they've also excelled in professional basketball. Their team colors are red and black. They won their first football title, the Angolan League, in 1979 and the basketball title in 1980.
The club has also been successful in handball and volleyball, winning many titles.
They compete in various local and continental football events, like Girabola and CAF competitions.
8. TUNISIA
The Tunisian Professional League 1, previously known as the Tunisian National Championship, is the top football league in Tunisia, organized by the Tunisian Football Federation.
It dates back to 1907 when it was played under French influence. In 1957, the Tunisian Football Federation was officially established.
The league turned professional in 1994, making it the first professional football league in Africa and the Arab world. Espérance de Tunis is the most successful team with 32 titles, the latest in the 2021–22 season.
The top two teams qualify for the CAF Champions League, the third for the CAF Confederation Cup, and the Tunisian Cup winner also qualifies.
The league is highly regarded in the Arab and African regions and ranks 15th in the world, according to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics in 2019.
The most popular Football Club in Tunisia,
ESPERANCE DE TUNIS
Espérance Sportive de Tunis, often called ES Tunis or simply EST, is a well-known sports club in Tunis, Tunisia, founded in 1919.
They're famous for their football team and have red and yellow as their team colors. Their home stadium, Stade Hammadi Agrebi, can hold 60,000 fans.
In Tunisia, they're a dominant force, having won 32 Tunisian Professional League 1 titles, 15 Tunisian Cup titles, and 6 Tunisian Super Cup titles, setting national records.
Internationally, they've achieved 13 titles, including 4 CAF Champions League titles and other titles recognized by the Confederation of African Football. They're one of the top football clubs in Tunisia and are considered giants in African football.
9. NIGERIA
The Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) is the top-level club football league in Nigeria. It's the highest division in Nigerian football. However, it has faced financial problems and declining fortunes since the late 2000s. The league is connected to the Nigeria National League (NNL), which is like a lower division. The NPFL is overseen by the Interim Management Committee Board, led by Mr. Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye. It's an important part of Nigerian football, but it has had its challenges in recent years.
The League Management Company (LMC) made several significant changes to the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL). One notable change was rebranding the league from the Nigerian Premier League to the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL). They also secured a $34 million TV rights deal to broadcast league matches until 2017. In 2015, the LMC sought financial support from the government to upgrade stadiums, provide necessary broadcast and medical equipment, and enhance stadium facilities.
The LMC established a set of rules and regulations that govern the 20 clubs participating in the NPFL each season. Moreover, on July 5, 2016, the NPFL became the first league in Africa to adopt the TMS Domestic Transfer Matching System (DTMS). Currently, Shehu Dikko serves as the head of the League Management Company. These efforts reflect the LMC's commitment to improving and modernizing the Nigerian Professional Football League.
The most popular Football Club in Nigeria,
ENYIMBA
Enyimba Football Club, often simply called Enyimba, is a Nigerian football team based in Aba. They compete in the Nigerian Professional Football League. Their name, "Enyimba," means "People's Elephant" in the Igbo language and is also a nickname for the city of Aba.
Established in 1976, the club became highly successful in the 2000s and is widely regarded as Nigeria's most accomplished football club.
They've won two African Champions League titles, nine Nigerian championships, and four Federation Cups since 2001. Their most recent league victory came in the 2022-23 season.
10. ZAMBIA
The Zambia Super League, also called the MTN Super League because of sponsors, is the main soccer league that began in 1962 by the Football Association of Zambia. The team that wins the league each season gets 1,000,000 ZMW (which is like $55,555) and a special trophy made of copper with their team name on it.
The league has 18 teams that play every season. Before 2018, it used to run from March to December, but since then, it goes from August to May. At the end of each season, if Zambia ranks among the top 12 countries in the CAF ranking, the top 4 teams qualify for CAF competitions.
The best 2 go to the CAF Champions League, and the next 2 go to the CAF Confederation Cup. The three teams at the bottom of the table are relegated to the National Division One league, and the top 3 teams from that league take their place in the Super League.
The most popular Football Club in Zambia,
ZESCO UNITED
ZESCO United Football Club, often just called ZESCO, is a soccer team from Zambia. They play in the Zambia Super League and were started in 1974. They play their home games at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. The team is owned and supported by the government-owned electricity company ZESCO.
ZESCO United started in 1974 and did something amazing in 2009. They were the first Zambian team to get into the group stage of the CAF African Champions League. They're one of three Zambian clubs that never lost a game at home to teams from outside Zambia, along with Nkana and Green Buffaloes. ZESCO United also made history by playing against a European team, Zenit Saint Petersburg, in Abu Dhabi in 2008.
In 2016, they did really well by making it to the semi-finals of the CAF African Champions League. They had a 2-2 draw with the champions from Egypt, Al Ahly.
They kept their impressive record of not losing to non-Zambian teams at home with a 2-1 win against South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns.What's more, they did something special by signing players from Asia, like Kosuke Nakamachi from Japan. They were the first Zambian club to do that.
