AS the Confederation of African Football (CAF) prepares for the preliminary round draw of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, Nigeria’s top clubs are missing from the top 20 in the latest CAF club rankings released on Friday.
The rankings, based on a five-year performance index, place Rivers United FC in 24th position and Enyimba FC in 35th. No other Nigerian club features in the top 50.
The list was published ahead of the draw scheduled to take place on Saturday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, at 13:00 local time (10:00 GMT).
Rivers United, ranked highest among Nigerian clubs, are also listed as the second-best team in West Africa. Enyimba, Nigeria’s most successful club on the continent historically, remains further down the list despite previous achievements in the CAF Champions League.
The latest rankings determine seeding for clubs in the upcoming interclub competitions. According to CAF, clubs are allocated points based on performance in CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup matches over the last five seasons.
Al Ahly of Egypt tops the 2025 rankings with 78 points, followed by Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa with 62 points, and Tunisia’s Espérance Sportive de Tunis in third place with 57 points. Morocco’s RS Berkane (52) and Tanzania’s Simba SC (48) complete the top five.
The rankings continue to reflect the dominance of clubs from North and Southern Africa.
Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria all have multiple clubs in the top 10. South African side Stellenbosch FC, which has had limited continental experience, ranks joint 21st with 15 points. Ghana’s Dreams FC sits in 26th position.
The exclusion of Nigerian clubs from the top 20 comes as the country prepares to participate in the 2025/26 season, with clubs set to begin their campaign in the preliminary rounds.
CAF’s Interclub competitions—sponsored by TotalEnergies—will once again feature clubs from across the continent competing for both the Champions League and Confederation Cup titles.
Full List Of CAF’s Best Clubs:
1. Al Ahly FC (Egypt) – 78 points
2. Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – 62
3. Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia) – 57
4. RS Berkane (Morocco) – 52
5. Simba SC (Tanzania) – 48
6. Pyramids FC (Egypt) – 47
7. Zamalek SC (Egypt) – 42
8. Wydad AC (Morocco) – 39
9. USM Alger (Algeria) – 37
10. CR Belouizdad (Algeria) – 36
11. Al Hilal SC (Sudan) – 34
12. Young Africans (Tanzania) – 34
13. ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire) – 33
14. TP Mazembe (DR Congo) – 30.5
15. Orlando Pirates (South Africa) – 30
16. Raja CA (Morocco) – 30
17. Atletico Petroleos (Angola) – 27
18. AS FAR (Morocco) – 21
19. MC Alger (Algeria) – 21
20. GD Sagrada Esperança (Angola) – 20
21. CS Constantine (Algeria) – 15
22. Stellenbosch FC (South Africa) – 15
23. Al Masry SC (Egypt) – 14
24. Rivers United FC (Nigeria) – 14
25. JS Kabylie (Algeria) – 13
26. Dreams FC (Ghana) – 12
27. Stade Malien (Mali) – 10.5
28. Horoya AC (Guinea) – 10
29. Future FC (Egypt) – 9.5
30. Etoile SS (Tunisia) – 9
31. Marumo Gallants FC (South Africa) – 9
32. E.S. Setif (Algeria) – 8
33. FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania) – 8
34. Abu Salim SC (Libya) – 8
35. Enyimba FC (Nigeria) – 7
36. ASC Jaraaf (Senegal) – 7
37. Coton Sport FC de Garoua (Cameroon) – 7
38. CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) – 6.5
39. Jwaneng Galaxy FC (Botswana) – 6
40. US Monastirienne (Tunisia) – 6
41. Al Merrikh SC (Sudan) – 6
42. Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) – 6
43. CD Lunda-Sul (Angola) – 5
44. FC Bravos do Maquis (Angola) – 5
45. Stade d’Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) – 5
46. Djoliba AC de Bamako (Mali) – 5
47. AS Maniema Union (DR Congo) – 5
48. CSMD Diables Noirs (Republic of Congo) – 5
49. AS Vita Club (DR Congo) – 5
50. Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) – 4
51. Medeama SC (Ghana) – 4
52. Al Hilal Benghazi (Libya)
53. Sekhukhune United (South Africa) – 4
54. Club Africain (Tunisia) – 4
55. Al Ittihad (Libya) – 4
56. AmaZulu (South Africa) – 4
57. FC St Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo) – 3
58. AS Real de Bamako (Mali) – 3
59. ASKO de Kara (Togo) – 3
60. Vipers SC (Uganda) – 3
61. Orapa United (Botswana) – 2.5
62. Associação Black Bulls (Mozambique) – 2.5
63. A.P.C. de Lobito (Angola) – 2
64. S.O.A.R. (Guinea) – 2
65. SuperSport United (South Africa) – 2
66. JS Saoura (Algeria) – 2
67. AS Otohô (Republic of Congo) – 2
68. DC Motema Pembe (DR Congo) – 2
69. Al Akhder (Libya) – 1.5
70. Royal Leopards FC (Eswatini) – 1
71. US Gendarmerie Nationale (Niger) – 1
72. Zanaco FC (Zambia) – 1
73. Teungueth FC (Senegal) – 1
74. Nkana FC (Zambia) – 1
75. Salitas FC (Burkina Faso) – 0.5
76. Ahli Benghazi (Libya) – 0.5
77. Namungo FC (Tanzania) – 0.5
78. Napsa Stars FC (Zambia) – 0.5
