Egyptian football giants Al Ahly continue their continental dominance, securing the top spot in the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) latest club rankings for 2025 with 78 points. The list, unveiled Friday, highlights the widening gap between Africa’s elite teams and underscores Nigeria’s struggles, with only two clubs—Rivers United and Enyimba FC—cracking the top 50.
South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns trailed Al Ahly in second place with 62 points, while Tunisian side Espérance claimed third with 57 points. North African clubs dominated the upper tiers, occupying four of the top eight positions. Morocco’s RS Berkane (4th, 52 points) and Egypt’s Pyramids FC (6th, 47 points) reinforced the region’s stronghold, with Tanzania’s Simba SC (5th, 48 points) emerging as East Africa’s highest-ranked representative.
Rivers United, positioned 19th with 14 points, became Nigeria’s highest-ranked team, sharing the spot with Egypt’s Al Masry. Enyimba FC, a nine-time Nigerian champion, appeared twice in the rankings: tied for 27th with 7 points alongside Senegal’s Jaraaf and Cameroon’s Coton Sport, and again at 35th with the same score. The duplication reflects CAF’s methodology, which accounts for performance across multiple continental competitions over a five-year period.
Ghana’s Dreams FC (21st, 12 points) and Mali’s Stade Malien (22nd, 10.5 points) were among West Africa’s notable entries, though none surpassed Nigeria’s placements. South Africa’s Orlando Pirates shared 14th place with Morocco’s Raja Casablanca (30 points each), while storied Congolese club TP Mazembe (13th, 30.5 points) remained Central Africa’s sole top-15 contender.
The rankings, which determine seedings for CAF interclub tournaments, revealed stark disparities in regional competitiveness. Only five nations—Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia—accounted for 70% of the top 20 slots. Sub-Saharan African teams outside South Africa and Tanzania largely occupied the mid-to-lower tiers, with Angola’s Atletico Petroleos (15th, 27 points) and GD Sagrada Esperança (17th, 20 points) as exceptions.
South African powerhouse Kaizer Chiefs, despite their domestic prominence, languished at 31st and 50th positions with 4 points—a reflection of inconsistent continental performances. The list also included debutants like Future FC of Egypt (24th, 9.5 points) and Zambia’s Prison Leopards, absent altogether, signaling shifting dynamics in Africa’s football landscape.
While the rankings affirm Al Ahly’s enduring supremacy—bolstered by three CAF Champions League titles since 2020—they also spotlight challenges for historically strong football nations like Nigeria, whose clubs last won continental silverware in 2018. With CAF’s expanded interclub formats increasing competition, the standings serve as both a benchmark and a rallying cry for nations seeking to close the gap with North Africa’s footballing powerhouses.
