AFCON 2027 (Q): African national team nicknames

The AFCON 2027 qualifiers kick off on September 24, with African national teams returning to the pitch. On this occasion, Foot-Africa invites you to discover the nicknames of the continent’s national teams and their meanings, from the Lions of Teranga and the Super Eagles to the Atlas Lions and the Leopards of the DR Congo.

North Africa

• Algeria: The Fennecs
• Egypt: The Pharaohs
• Libya: The Knights of the Mediterranean
• Morocco: The Atlas Lions
• Tunisia: The Carthage Eagles

West Africa

• Benin: The Cheetahs
• Burkina Faso: The Stallions
• Cape Verde: The Blue Sharks
• Ivory Coast: The Elephants
• Gambia: The Scorpions
• Ghana: The Black Stars
• Guinea: The National Elephant
• Guinea-Bissau: Os Djurtus/The Lycaons
• Liberia: The Lone Stars
• Mali: The Eagles
• Mauritania: Al-Mourabitoun/The Almoravids
• Niger: The Mena/The Camel
• Nigeria: The Super Eagles
• Senegal: The Lions of Teranga/The Lions of Hospitality
• Sierra Leone: Leone Stars/The Stars of Leone
• Togo: The Hawks

Central Africa

• Angola: The Palancas Negras/The Giant Sable Antelopes
• Burundi: The Swallows
• Cameroon: The Indomitable Lions
• Central African Republic: The Wild Beasts
• Chad: The Sao
• Comoros: The Coelacanths
• Congo: The Red Devils
• DR Congo: The Leopards
• Equatorial Guinea: Nzalang Nacional/The National Thunder
• Gabon: The Panthers
• São Tomé and Príncipe: The Falcons and Parrots

East Africa

• Djibouti: The Red Sea Shoremen
• Eritrea: The Red Sea Camels
• Ethiopia: The Walia Ibex/The Abyssinian Ibex
• Kenya: Harambee Stars/The Stars of Unity
• Rwanda: Amavubi/The Wasps
• Seychelles: The Pirates
• Somalia: The Ocean Stars
• South Sudan: The Bright Stars
• Sudan: The Jediane Falcons
• Tanzania: Taifa Stars/The Stars of the Nation
• Uganda: The Cranes

Southern Africa

• Botswana: The Zebras
• Eswatini: Sihlangu Semnikati/The King’s Shield
• Lesotho: Likuena/The Crocodiles
• Madagascar: Barea/The Zebu
• Malawi: The Flames
• Mauritius: The Dodos
• Mozambique: Os Mambas/The Mambas
• Namibia: The Brave Warriors
• South Africa: Bafana Bafana/The Boys, the Guys
• Zambia: Chipolopolo/The Copper Bullets
• Zimbabwe: The Warriors

These names have become inseparable from African national teams. They reflect their history, culture and identity, while also forming part of the everyday language of supporters across the continent.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr

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DR Congo

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AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations

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