Team nicknames stand for an awful lot in African football – it not only gives a sense of identity to the fans and the nation.
Most African countries select nicknames for their national teams based on creations that are common to their environment. It is, however, surprising that most of the nicknames for the African nations are names of animals.
Below is a full list of the 24 African countries participating in the 2-19 AFCON and their nicknames.
Country Nickname
Algeria – Les Fennecs (The Foxes)
Burkina Faso – Les Etalons (The Stallions)
Cameroon – Les Lions (The Indomitable Lions)
Cape Verde islands – Tubarões Azuis (Blue Sharks)
Congo Brazzaville – Diables Rouges (Red Devils)
DR Congo – Les Léopards (The Leopards)
Ghana – Black Stars (The Black Stars)
Guinea – Syli Nationale (National Elephants)
Ivory Coast – Les Éléphants (The Elephants)
Mali – Les Aigles (The Eagles)
Senegal -Les Lions de la Teranga (The Lions of Teranga)
South Africa – Bafana Bafana (Boys Boys or Go Boys, Go Boys)
Tunisia – Les Aigles de Carthage (The Carthage Eagles)
Egypt- Pharaohs”
Nigeria- Green Eagles
Benin- The Squirrels
Kenya- Harambee Stars”
Angola Palancas Negras (Giant sable antelopes)
Madagascar- Barea (a species of Zebu)
Mauritania Almoravid (Lions of Chinguetti)
Tanzania- Taifa Stars
Burundi: The Swallows
Namibia: Brave Warriors
Guinea-Bissau -Djurtus (African wild dog)
