What’s in a name? In African football, just about everything. From fearsome animals and proud warriors to symbols of unity, resilience and national identity, the nicknames of Africa’s national teams tell stories far bigger than the game itself.
They echo history, culture and ambition — rallying fans, intimidating rivals and turning 11 players into living symbols of a nation’s spirit. As we continue enjoying the AFCON 2026 action in Morocco, here’s a tour of the colourful, powerful and sometimes surprising nicknames carried by African national football teams across the continent.
🇩🇿 Algeria: The Fennec Foxes
🇦🇴 Angola: Palancas Negras
🇧🇯 Benin: The Cheetahs
🇧🇼 Botswana: Zebras
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso: The Stallions
🇧🇮 Burundi: The Swallows in the Field
🇨🇲 Cameroon: The Indomitable Lions
🇨🇻 Cape Verde: Tubarões Azuis
🇨🇫 Central African Republic: The Wild Beasts
🇹🇩 Chad: The Sao
🇰🇲 Comoros: The Coelacanths
🇨🇬 Congo: The Red Devils
🇨🇩 DR Congo: The Leopards
🇩🇯 Djibouti: The Shoremen of the Red Sea
🇪🇬 Egypt: The Pharaohs
🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea: Nzalang Nacional – The National Thunder
🇪🇷 Eritrea: The Red Sea Camels
🇸🇿 Eswatini: Sihlangu Semnikati – The King’s Shield
🇪🇹 Ethiopia: Walia Ibex
🇬🇦 Gabon: The Panthers
🇬🇲 Gambia: The Scorpions
🇬🇭 Ghana: The Black Stars
🇬🇳 Guinea: The National Elephants
🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau: Os Djurtus
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast: The Elephants
🇰🇪 Kenya: Harambee Stars (Pull Together Stars)
🇱🇸 Lesotho: Likuena (The Crocodiles)
🇱🇷 Liberia: The Lone Stars
🇱🇾 Libya: The Mediterranean Knights
🇲🇬 Madagascar: Barea (The Zebu)
🇲🇼 Malawi: The Flames
🇲🇱 Mali: The Eagles
🇲🇷 Mauritania: Al-Murabitun (The Almoravids)
🇲🇺 Mauritius: The Dodos
🇲🇦 Morocco: The Atlas Lions
🇲🇿 Mozambique: Os Mambas
🇳🇦 Namibia: Brave Warriors
🇳🇪 Niger: The Mena
🇳🇬 Nigeria: Super Eagles
🇷🇼 Rwanda: Amavubi (The Wasps)
🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe: The Falcons and Parrots Team
🇸🇳 Senegal: The Lions of Teranga
🇸🇨 Seychelles: The Pirates
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone: Leone Stars
🇸🇴 Somalia: The Ocean Stars
🇿🇦 South Africa: Bafana Bafana
🇸🇸 South Sudan: The Bright Stars
🇸🇩 Sudan: The Falcons of Jediane
🇹🇿 Tanzania: Taifa Stars (The Nation Stars)
🇹🇬 Togo: The Sparrowhawks
🇹🇳 Tunisia: The Carthage Eagles
🇺🇬 Uganda: The Cranes
🇿🇲 Zambia: Chipolopolo – The Copper Bullets
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe: The Warriors
