Top 10 Decorated African Clubs of all Time

Football is the most popular sport in Africa. Indeed, football is probably the most popular sport in every African country, although rugby and cricket are also very popular in South Africa. Africa have had football clubs that have participated in a lot of competitions and won glories. Winning a continental trophy is very difficult due to the complex nature of its competitions structure but despite that a lot of clubs in Africa have achieved successes in Africa.

In this article, SportsGoogly will preview the top 10 football clubs in Africa which have won more continental and domestic trophies.

1. Al Ahly SC(Egypt)

Al Ahly Sporting Club is the best African club of all time. Al Ahly is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Egyptian Premier League, the top tier of the Egyptian football league system. Al Ahly was founded in April 24, 1907 by Omar Lotfi. Al Ahly is Egypt’s most successful club and in the year 2000 CAF named Al Ahly as the club of the century in Africa. Al Ahly is based in Cairo and played their home matches at the Cairo International Stadium.

In 2005 Al Ahly made an unprecedented record in Africa of going an entire season being unbeaten in almost all possible competitions. 46 matches were played in the Egyptian Premier League, Egyptian Cup, Egyptian Super Cup and CAF Champions League, with Ahly remaining unbeaten in all of them. Al Ahly owns its own stadium which is the 8,000 capacity El-Tetsh Stadium with a training complex included. Al Ahly owns a basketball, volleyball, handball, water polo, table tennis, swimming, karate and Athletics clubs as well.

International Trophies Won.

FIFA Club World Cup.

• Third Place, 2006
• Fourth place, 2012
• Sixth place, 2005, 2008, 2013

CAF Champions League.

• 8 trophies won which is a record win(1982, 1987, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013)
• 2 times runner up(1987 and 2007)

CAF Confederation Cup.

• Won it in 2014

CAF Super Cup.

• 6 trophies won which is a record win(2002, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014)
• 2 times runner up 1994, 2015.

Domestic Trophies Won.

Egyptian League Titles: 38 trophies which is a record win and 11 times as runner up.

Egyptian Cup Titles: 33 trophies which is a record win and 15 times as runner up.

Egyptian Super Cup:  9 trophies which is a record win and one time runner up.

2. TP Mazembe (Congo DR)

Tout Puissant Mazembe is football club based in Lubumbashi. Their home games are played at Stade TP Mazembe situated in the suburb of Kamalondo. They are nickname is the ravens despite having a crocodile with a ball in its mouth on the team crest. TP Mazembe was founded in 1939 by Benedictine monks of the order of Sanctimonious Saint that directed the Holy Institute Boniface of Élisabethville. The team was first name Saint Georges until 1944 that young scouts from Europe took charge of the team and named it Saint Paul FC. After some years the scouts handed over the team to the local people and the name was changed again to FC Englebert. The qualifier “Tout Puissant” meaning Almighty was added to the club’s name after it went undefeated in winning its first league title in 1966.

TP Mazembe took to its performance when Moïse Katumbi Chapwe took charge of team. The young governor made a huge investment in TP Mazembe by signing top African players, building an 18,500 capacity stadium and acquiring a private for the club. TP Mazembe is currently the finest football club in Africa.

International Trophies Won.

FIFA Club World.

• Runners up in the 2010 edition.

CAF Super Cup.

• 3 trophies won(2010, 2011, 2016)

CAF Champions League.

• 5 trophies won(1967, 1968, 2009, 2010, 2015)
• 2 times runner up(1969, 1970)

CAF Confederation Cup.

• Runners up in 2013

CAF Cup Winners’ Cup

• Won it in 1980

Domestic Trophies Won.

Congolese League: 15 trophies won(1966, 1967, 1969, 1976, 1987, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016)

Congolese Cup: 5 trophies won(1966, 1967, 1976, 1979, 2000) and runner up in 2003.

Congolese Super Cup: 2 trophies won(2013, 2014)

3. Zamalek SC (Egypt)

Zamalek sporting club is an Egyptian club based in Giza, the sports clubs include football, handball, volleyball, basketball, karate, swimming, table tennis, judo,croquet and athletics. It is is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Egyptian Premier League, the top tier of the Egyptian football league system. Founded on 5 January 1911 as Qasr El-Neel Club and was first headed by Belgian lawyer George Marzbach. The name was changed to El-Mokhtalat Club in 1913 and was named after King Farouk in 1941 to King Farouk Club, before finally settling as Zamalek SC after the 1952 Egyptian revolution. Zamalek owns a training complex and a stadium which they use as their training ground. Zamalek also uses the Cairo International Stadium as their home ground due to low capacity and the old nature of their stadium(Helmi Zamora Stadium). Zamalek is one of the elite football clubs in Africa and have won a lot of trophies.

International Trophies Won.

CAF Champions League.

• 5 trophies won(1984, 1986, 1993, 1996, 2002)
• Runners up in 1994.

African Cup Winners’ Cup.

• Won it in 2000

CAF Super Cup.

• 3 trophies won(1994, 1997, 2003)
• Runner up in 2001

Domestic Trophies Won.

Egyptian League: 12 trophies won(1959–60, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1977–78, 1983–84, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2014–15)

Egyptian Cup: 25 trophies won(1922, 1932, 1935, 1938, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1988, 1999, 2002, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) and 13 times runner up.

Egyptian Super Cup: 2 trophies won( 2001, 2002) and 5 times runner up.

4. Hafia FC (Guinea)

Hafia Football Club is a football club based in Conakry, Guinea. Founded in 1951, the team was known as Conacry II in the 1960s and won three titles under that name. It has dominated the African football in the 1970s. Hafia FC have lost their dominance since 2002 and they have not won any trophy from then. Hafia FC are gatering their resources to restore the lost glory. Hafia FC had a joyful history in the 1970’s.

International Trophies Won.

CAF Champions League.

• 3 trophies won(1972, 1975, 1977)
• 2 times runner up(1976, 1978)

Domestic Trophies Won.

Guinea League: 15 trophies won(1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1985)

Guinea Cup: 3 trophies won(1992, 1993, 2002)

5. Raja Casablanca (Morocco)

Raja Sporting Club is a sports club with section in many different disciplines in Casablanca, Morocco. Raja was founded in 1960 as part of the political struggle against French rule by nationalists who aimed to create a focus for working class young Moroccans. The club is most well known outside Morocco for its football team. Raja Casablanca is the best Moroccan football clubs. Raja have one of the best academies in Africa and have produced a lot of players. The team have a lot facilities in Africa. Raja plays their home grounds at the King Mohamed V Stadium in Morocco. Raja Casablanca is the first African club in history to play in the FIFA Club World Cup. Raja are still in the olden days form they use to enjoy. Raja Casablanca is one of the finest football clubs in Africa.

International Trophies Won.

FIFA Club World Cup.

• Runner up in 2013

CAF Champions League.

• 3 trophies won(1989, 1997, 1999)
• Runner up in 2002

CAF Cup.

• Won it in 2003

CAF Super Cup.

• Won it in 2000
• Runner up in 1998

Domestic Trophies Won.

Moroccan League: 11 trophies won(1987–88, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13) and 5 times runner up.

Moroccan Cup: 7 trophies won(1974, 1977, 1982, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2012) with 5 times runner up.

6. Canon Yaounde (Cameroon)

Canon Sportif de Yaounde is a football club based in Cameroon capital Yaounde. The club was formed in 1930 and play their games at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo. Their most successful period was in the 1970s and 1980s when they were a dominant force in Cameroonian and African football. Team nicknamed “Kpa Kum” . Since 2002 Canon Yaounde have not won any trophy. Canon have being struggling to put the team in order to win a competitive trophy. Canon Yaounde is one of Africa’s most finest clubs in history. Canon Yaounde have won a lot of trophies both internationally and locally.

International Trophies Won.

African Champions’ Cup

• 3 trophies won(1971, 1978, 1980)

African Cup Winners’ Cup

• Won it in 1979
• 3 times runner up(1977, 1984, 2000)

Domestic Trophies Won

Cameroonian League: 10 trophies won(1970, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1991, 2002)

Cameroonian Cup:  12 trophies won(1957, 1967, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1995, 1999) and 5 times runner up.

7. Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)

Espérance Sportive de Tunis was founded on 15 January 1919 in Tunis. The team is a sporting club and have a handball, volley, swimming, wrestling, rugby, boxing and a judo team as well. They play their home games at the 60,000 capacitor Stade Olympique de Rades. The team has its own sporting complex including training facilities for all the sporting related activity. The team has a stadium named Stade El Menzah with about 36,000 capacity which Esperance does not use very often. Esperance is one the elite football clubs in Africa and have all that it takes for a professional club. Esperance have won a lot of international and local trophies.

International Trophies Won

CAF Champions League.

• 2 trophies won(1994, 2011)
• 4 times runner up(1999, 2000, 2010, 2012)

African Cup Winners’ Cup.

• Winners in 1998
• Runners up in 1987

CAF Cup.

• Won it 1997

CAF Super Cup.

• Winners in 1995
• 2 times runner up(1999, 2012)

Domestic Trophies Won.

Tunisian League: 26 trophies won(1942, 1959, 1960, 1970, 1975, 1976, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014)

Tunisian Cup: 15 trophies won(1939, 1957, 1964, 1979, 1980, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011 ,2016)

Tunisian Super Cup: 3 trophies won(1960, 1993, 2001)

8. Asante Kotoko S.C (Ghana)

Kumasi Asante Kotoko was founded on 31 August 1935. The team is owned and managed by King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II the King of the Asante Kingdom. The taem is nicknamed the Porcupine wariors which is the emblem of the Asante kingdom. Asante Kotoko was awarded club of the century in Africa by IFFHS.

Asante Kotoko training ground and training facilities in KumasiGhana. There is ongoing construction of the “Asante Kotoko Adako-Jachie Training Complex” which when completed will consist of three training pitches, one artificial grass pitch, multi-functional sports hall, Olympic-size swimming pool and a 20-bedroom camping facility for Asante Kotoko at Adako Jachie suburb situated on the outskirts of Kumasi

International Trophies Won.

African Cup of Champions Clubs:

• 2 trophies won(1970, 1983)
• 5 times runner up(1967, 1971, 1973, 1982, 1993)

African Cup Winners Cup.

• Runners up in 2002

CAF Confederation Cup.

• Runners up in 2004

Domestic Trophies Won.

Ghana League: 24 trophies won which is a record time win.

Ghana FA Cup: 8 trophies won(1958, 1959, 1960, 1978, 1984, 1997–98, 2001, 2014)

Ghana Super Cup: 3 trophies won(2012, 2013, 2014)

9. JS Kabylie (Algeria)

Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie is a football club based in Tizi Ouzou. It draws its support from Kabyle football fans even outside the city of Tizi Ouzou. JS Kabylie was founded in1946 and their home stadium is 1st November stadium. JS Kabylie is Algeria’s best football but have a lot of rivalry in Algeria. JSK among the elite clubs in Africa and have won some international and local trophies.

International Trophies Won

CAF Champions League

• 2 trophies won(1981, 1990)

CAF Cup Winners’ Cup

• Won it in 1995

CAF Cup

• 3 trophies won(2000, 2001, 2002)

Domestic Trophies Won.

Algerian League.

• 14 trophies won(1973, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1995, 2004, 2006, 2008) which is a record time winning.
• 10 times runner up(1978, 1979, 1981, 1988, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2014)

Algerian Cup

• 5 trophies won(1977, 1986, 1992, 1994, 2011
• 5 times runner up(1979, 1991, 1999, 2004, 2014)

Algerian Super Cup

• Won it in 1992
• 3 times runner up(1994, 1995, 2006)

10. Hearts of Oak S.C (Ghana)

Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club was founded on 11th November 1911(11/11/11) by 11 men in Accra. The team plays it home games at the Accra Sports Stadium. The board chairman of the team is King Togbe Afede XIV. and nicknamed “Never say die until the bones are rotten” The team in May 9, 2001 suffered a major tragedy which is the largest football tragedy in Africa. In the 2000, Hearts of Oak had their strongest squad ever which was nicknamed the 64 battalions of 2000. In that year they won the CAF champions league in great faction. The supporters of the club prefers to be called the continental club master. Hearts of Oak hhave not being able to achieve continental success since 2004 as the club is noted for. Hearts of Oak have lunched an operation called “restoring the lost glory” to help Hearts achieve the continental success they are well noted for.

International Trophies Won.

CAF Confederation Cup.

• Won it in 2004

CAF Champions League.

• Won it in 2000
• 2 times runner up(1977, 1979)

CAF Super Cup.

• Won it in 2001
• Runners up in 2005

Domestic Trophies Won.

• Ghana League: 20 trophies won(1956, 1958, 1961–62, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1989–90, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2009)
• Ghanaian FA Cup:  10 trophies won(1973, 1974, 1979, 1981, 1989, 1990, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1999, 2000) which is a record time winning.