The year 2024 has ended to make way for 2025. The opportunity to look back and shed light on these unbeatable, or almost unbeatable, African selections. With 15 matches, Senegal remains the only undefeated team in 2024.
The year 2024 almost rhymes with Can. However, the most prestigious African competition was not the only one to count this year. If certain selections did not shine in Côte Ivoire, they can boast of having had an exceptional year. And just one invincible team… But then, who owns the crown of the best African team in 2024? Although Senegal was eliminated in the round of 16 of the Can 2023 by Ivory Coast on penalties, this setback remains exceptional since it does not count as an official defeat, but rather as a draw.
15 matches without defeat
Apart from this match, the Teranga Lions had an almost perfect year, with only two draws against Burkina Faso and the DRC. In 2024, they put together an impressive 15-game unbeaten run and are the only African nation to go undefeated this year. With exceptional performances from players like Sadio Mané, Senegal can boast of being the most formidable African nation in 2024.
Five teams with two defeats
Among these teams, nations like Mali, Algeria, Mozambique, Cameroon and Angola have established themselves as models of consistency. They have each been defeated only twice.
Mali experienced its first disappointment in the quarter-final of the Can against Ivory Coast in overtime (1-2, ap) and the second against Ghana (1-2). He performed particularly well in qualifying matches and friendly matches, where he often dominated his opponents. During qualifying for CAN 2025, the Eagles remained undefeated.
For its part, Algeria has experienced similar results, with only two defeats in 2024. These setbacks came against Mauritania at the Can (0-1) then against Guinea (1-2) in June, results which do not, however, call into question the form of the team led by Petkovic. The Fennecs showed their power, going six games without defeat during qualifying for the Moroccan Can.
Mozambique also had an impressive year: only Mali (1-3) and Cape Verde (0-1) made them falter. The Mambas have not lost a match in ten months.
Four selections with one defeat this year
South Africa, after a defeat at the start of 2024 against Mali (0-1), on January 16 at the Can, bounced back spectacularly. The loss was Bafana Bafana’s first game of the year, and the team hasn’t bitten the dust since. She is currently on a 19-match unbeaten run, an impressive result which demonstrates the continued improvement of South African football. Under the leadership of Hugo Broos, Bafana Bafana showed that they could compete with the best African teams and that they were a team to be taken seriously on the continent. The Comoros also continue to make a splash this year. Their only defeat dates back to June 7 against Madagascar (1-2). Since then, the Comorians have remained undefeated for six months. Their meteoric rise is remarkable and shows the rapid evolution of this team, which continues to surprise on the African scene.
The Coelacanthes have become a difficult team to beat and at the same time a small outsider. Morocco, for its part, experienced a contrasting year. After their premature elimination in the round of 16 of Can 2024 against South Africa (1-2), the Atlas Lions finished the year with a bang. This elimination is also the only setback they have suffered this year. Since this summer, they have had eight wins in a row, proving that they are in great shape and that they are among the best teams on the continent. Perfect timing before the Can at home next winter.
Finally, Egypt, despite its fiasco at the Can and a setback in a friendly match against Croatia (2-4) in March, remains a formidable team. Since this defeat, the Pharaohs are unbeaten in their last eight matches and continue to dominate other African nations in qualifying and friendly matches. They should therefore be considered undefeated in official competition.
With Afrik-foot
