African domestic leagues climb Opta global rankings as Morocco’s Botola Pro leads charge

Morocco’s Botola Pro has been ranked as the strongest African domestic league and 40th in the world in Opta’s latest Power Rankings of the top 100 football championships, underlining the growing status of club football across the continent.

The Moroccan top flight finishes ahead of several higher-profile competitions, including the Saudi Pro League in 41st place and the Scottish Premiership in 42nd, in the annual assessment compiled by Opta. The position is seen as further evidence of the rise of Moroccan football and the increasing competitiveness of its national league on the global stage.

North African leagues set the pace

North Africa dominates the African picture in the 2024 list, with Algeria and Egypt also securing prominent positions.

The Algerian Ligue 1 is ranked 43rd worldwide, immediately behind the Scottish Premiership and just three places below the Botola Pro. Its standing is presented as confirmation of the consistency of Algerian clubs and the intensity of local support that underpins the competition.

Egypt’s Premier League is placed 47th, helped by the sustained influence of continental heavyweights Al Ahly and Zamalek, who have long been among the most successful and best-known clubs in African football. Their performances in domestic and continental competitions contribute significantly to the league’s international reputation.

Southern Africa’s leading competition, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) of South Africa, completes the top quartet of African championships, taking 62nd place in Opta’s global list. Its presence among the leading leagues worldwide adds to a broad geographic spread of African representation.

Sub-Saharan leagues reinforce African presence

Beyond the continent’s traditional powerhouses, several sub-Saharan leagues also feature in Opta’s top 100, underlining the depth of talent and competition across Africa.

The Nigeria Premier League appears in 82nd position, followed immediately by the Ghana Premier League in 83rd. Both championships are recognised for their role in developing players who move on to major clubs around the world, while maintaining increasingly competitive domestic structures.

Further down the ranking, the Zambia Super League takes 95th place, adding another sub-Saharan competition to the list and extending Africa’s presence deep into the global top 100.

Seven African leagues in world’s top 100

In total, seven African national championships are included among Opta’s 100 most competitive leagues on the planet: the Botola Pro (40th), Ligue 1 in Algeria (43rd), the Egyptian Premier League (47th), South Africa’s PSL (62nd), the Nigeria Premier League (82nd), the Ghana Premier League (83rd) and the Zambia Super League (95th).

Taken together, these rankings reinforce Africa’s status as one of football’s major heartlands, with its domestic competitions increasingly recognised alongside established leagues from other continents in Opta’s global assessment.