As we come to the end of yet another great footballing year, Soka25east.com, recounts the top five footballing moments and honours achieved by African teams at major tournaments across the African continent and the world.
Of course, 2015 has been a great year in terms of African teams competing for silverware against the best teams at the very biggest stage which includes club competitions and International competitions both in Africa and the world. Here is the countdown of the top African teams of the year.
5. Etoile Sahel of Tunisia (CAF Confederations Cup Winners 2015)
Starting our countdown at number five Etoile Sahel of Tunisia who lifted the second tier of Africa’s club competitions, the CAF Confederations cup back in November. Ammar Jemal’s two goals across the two legged final against Orlando Pirates of South Africa was enough to earn Etoile a 2-1 victory on aggregate and consequently claiming their ninth CAF title.
4. Nigeria under 23 (CAF U-23 Afcon Winners 2015)
Nigeria came into the CAF Under 23 African Nations Cup in Senegal as firm favourites and at the end of the tournament, they lived up to their tag seeing off their closest rival Algeria by 2 goals to 1 in the final played at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar. A brace from midfielder Etebo Peter Oghenekaro secured victory for the Nigerians in a tournament that also served as a qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
3. TP Mazembe of DRC (CAF Champions League Winners 2015)
The giants from the Democratic Republic of Congo saw off Algerian Champions USM Alger 4-1 on aggregate to claim their fifth African title. Tanzania’s hit man Mbwana Samatta scoring 2 goals in the process and handing Mazembe a place at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.The African kings however failing to get past the group stages this time around. The year 2015 was however a resounding success for TP Mazembe putting them at number 3 in our countdown.
2. Nigeria under 17 (FIFA U17 World Champions)
In November, Nigeria retained their crown in fashionable style with a 2-0 win against Mali at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Vina Del Mar, Chile. The stand out player for Nigeria in the tournament was Victor Osimhen who raked in a record-breaking 10 goals. The Golden Eaglets earning themselves a spot at number two.
1. Ivory Coast (CAF African Cup of Nations Winners 2015)
Tutored by Frenchman Herve Renard, Ivory Coast came into the tournament as favourites once more. Perhaps still haunted by their painful loss to Zambia at the 2012 Afcon tournament they were expected to win especially that the golden generation of the likes of Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Barry Copa, Gervinho, Salomon Kalou, Sol Bamba and Chieck Tiote, were buoyed by the fact the very same man who denied them the title with Zambia was now their coach. And so they triumphed in on that dramatic evening in Bata against the sternest of opponents in the shape of Ghana, so hard was their victory they required a penalty shootout with the score ending 8-9 in favour of the elephants, eventually ending their 24 year wait for the African crown. The Elephants of Ivory Coast earning the top spot as the African team of 2015.
