How many national football teams are in Africa?

In the vast continent of Africa, there exist 54 acknowledged sovereign states, each with the potential to assemble a national football team. It should be noted, however, that all these countries do not necessarily partake in football activities, while some may not have any functioning infrastructure and/or resources at play to compete at the global level.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is responsible for managing football affairs on the continent, among others. The continental federation is also responsible for staging prestigious competitions such as the Africa Cup of Nations and qualifiers to the World Cup tournaments. CAF, with 56 member associations at present, covers the 54 recognized African countries along with territories of Western Sahara and Zanzibar in dispute.

Most of these member associations are engaged in international competitions, which include FIFA World Cup qualifiers, African Nations Championships, among many others for the youth. Some of the most outstanding national teams in Africa include Nigeria, Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Morocco. These teams boast a rich footballing heritage and have tasted success both domestically and on the global stage.

African football faces myriad challenges from sparse infrastructure, finance, to political instability in some regions that translate to progress and the competitiveness of national teams in consistent appearances in international championships.

More than this, the level of success and competitiveness in football is not the same across the African nations. Some have a very rich history of football and always qualify for world’s top championship tournaments while others seem to strive to showcase themselves either on the continental or world stage. However, it is important to note that football in Africa extends beyond international competitions.

This includes domestic leagues, grassroots development programs, and community initiatives aimed at fostering the sport and nurturing talent at all levels. It has an important role to play in the long-term development and sustainability of football in Africa.

The level of infrastructure and management has been rapidly improved in recent years, coast to coast. Programmes such as FIFA Forward and investments from various parties have been central in the course of modernising stadiums, as well as setting up top-notch training facilities and initiatives from the grassroots whose purpose is identification and development of young talents.

In spite of the cosmopolitan nature of the national football teams in Africa, it still faces challenges that are yet to be surmounted for Africa to unleash its full potential. But with sustained investment, progression, and backing from the global community of football, African football has a promising opportunity to develop and produce a bigger number of world-class players in the days ahead.

How many teams qualify for AFCON and CHAN

AFCON comprises a grand total of 16 teams, which are further divided into four distinct categories. The victorious pair from each category advances to the elimination round. Consequently, eight teams from each group secure their spot in the tournament, resulting in a cumulative total of 24 slots.

The inception of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) took place in 2009, with its inaugural edition being held in Côte d’Ivoire. This biennial football tournament alternates with AFCON. Notably, only players who participate in their respective domestic leagues are eligible to partake in CHAN.