ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - Two months ago, a new champion was crowned at the 2025 AfroBasket tournament. Fans are still reflecting on this, while we are already discussing which African teams are the best and their chances of reaching the 2027 World Cup in Qatar.
We have analysed the 16 national teams competing for the five spots allocated to Africa in the 32-team World Cup, and present our Volume 1 World Cup African Qualifiers Power Rankings.
Window 1 of the World Cup African qualifiers begins on 27 November and ends on Sunday 30 November in Rades, Tunisia, with eight teams competing.
Here's what we concluded.
#16 - Uganda
When it comes to measuring up Uganda's potential and chances, there's always an overwhelming question mark.
The Silverbacks could either exceed expectations or perform terribly, as they did at the 2025 AfroBasket, where they lost all three games.
One main concern is whether Uganda's up-and-coming players can really make a difference, given that some of their star players are approaching the end of their careers.
#15 - Madagascar
A lot could happen between now and when Madagascar open their World Cup African Qualifiers campaign in February 2026. They could introduce new players, coaching staff and programmes for the national team, which would reshape their potential to some extent.
However, at this stage, the most reliable judgement of the team lies in how they performed in the last African Championship, where they showed great potential for growth despite failing to win any of their three games.
#14 - Rwanda
It remains to be seen how Rwanda's new coaching staff, led by former assistant coach Yves Murenzi and former team stars Kenny Gasana and Aristide Mugabe, can rebuild a team capable of competing with any other team on the continent, but which tends to falter in crucial moments of games.
Taking on Nigeria, Guinea and Tunisia in the first three qualifiers in November could be coach Murenzi's biggest challenge, as this will give an indication of the team's future prospects.
#13 - Libya
The problem with the Libyan national team is that it has yet to match the potential and continental dominance of its local clubs.
Although star players such as Mohamed Sadi, Nasseim Badrush and Sofian Hamad play professionally at home and have become household names across Africa, the Libyan national team has yet to make an impact, even with former NBA player and coach Sam Vincent as head coach.
However, it should be noted that Libya has only recently returned to the top tier of African basketball after an absence of two decades.
#12 - Guinea
Two months ago, Guinea challenged eventual champions Angola in the first three quarters before losing in the fourth; They defeated the number one team in Africa, South Sudan, and outclassed Libya to close their group phase campaign with a 2–1 victory.
Although Guinea fell to the eventual runners-up in the Round of 16, they proved themselves to be a formidable opponent.
However, the absence of Euroleague duo Alpha Diallo and former NBA champion Mamadi Diakite in their first three games in November could be an issue.
Guinea are in Group C alongside Nigeria, Rwanda and Tunisia.
#11 - DR Congo
For a Congolese team that excelled in the last edition of the AfroBasket Qualifiers but wasn't so impressive in the 2025 AfroBasket, being drawn alongside Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Madagascar couldn't be a more challenging scenario.
If there is one team in African basketball eager to rewrite its history, given its talent and physicality, it's the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
DR Congo won't take to the floor until the second window of the qualifiers in February 2026.
#10 - Tunisia
The return of coach Adel Tlatli, who is often credited with revolutionising his country's basketball over the past two decades, is a clear sign of Tunisia's ambition to return to their former glory.
After finishing twelfth in the last African Championship — their worst result since the tournament expanded to 16 teams in 2007 — Tunisia are expected to demonstrate their potential when they play in front of their home fans in November.
Tunisia tend to perform well when playing on home soil.
#9 - Cape Verde
There are many unanswered questions about Cape Verde's chances in the African World Cup Qualifiers.
Two years ago, the islanders shocked many by securing one of the five places allocated to African nations for the 2023 World Cup. Two months ago, Cape Verde's Blue Sharks competed hard and almost stunned the eventual champions, Angola, in front of a rowdy home crowd.
It remains to be seen whether block shot specialist Edy Tavares will be available, or if the team will be the same one that caused a stir in African basketball. If so, their Group A opponents — Cameroon, South Sudan, and Libya — should be wary.
#8 - Nigeria
Nigeria is often a threat on the continent and is still considered an African basketball giant, but they continue to falter when it matters most.
They often have talented players and decent coaching staff, yet becoming a solid and dominant team in Africa remains an elusive challenge.
Taking on South Sudan, Cape Verde and Libya in Group A is an intriguing challenge!
#7 - Mali
If Mali can retain the core of the squad that triumphed over tremendous adversity to finish second at AfroBasket two months ago, then they will be a formidable opponent.
This team includes players who shocked everyone by finishing second at the 2019 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
If you would like to see a rematch of the 2025 AfroBasket final, keep an eye on Group D, where Mali will face Angola, who defeated them in the 2025 final, in February 2026.
#6 - Egypt
Group D of the World Cup African Qualifiers is often described as one of the most intriguing to follow, with Egypt lining up against more established teams such as Angola, Mali and Uganda.
If Egypt's 3–0 record in the group phase of the 2025 AfroBasket is anything to go by, and if they are fortunate enough to play some of their games on home soil, then this Egyptian team could go places.
Ehab Amin, Anas Mahmoud, Patrick Gardner and Assem Marei have become household names across the continent, establishing Egypt as a team to watch.
#5 - Cameroon
With Jeremiah Hill, Jordan Bayehe and Fabian Ateba all expected to play for Cameroon in their first three World Cup qualifiers, the team remain legitimate contenders in Group A.
They also have a genuine chance to put right their fourth-place finish out of 16 in the last AfroBasket.
#4 - Côte d'Ivoire
The last time Côte d'Ivoire played an official game, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 2025 AfroBasket tournament.
Having reached the Last Eight undefeated in three games and been deemed title contenders, they were ultimately defeated by Mali in a 102-96 overtime battle, ending their hopes.
Will they show up with a new roster, coaching staff, and renewed ambitions? We'll find out in February 2026.
For now, Côte d'Ivoire is recognised as a highly competitive team that can make an impact beyond the continent.
#3 - South Sudan
The team hyped as the number one in Africa failed to meet expectations, returning home from the 2025 AfroBasket in tenth place after losing 3-1. This was a decline compared to their seventh-place finish four years earlier.
If South Sudan needed evidence of the competitiveness of African basketball, the 2025 AfroBasket presented an opportunity to turn things around, as they now attempt to secure consecutive World Cup appearances after qualifying on their first attempt.
It remains to be seen whether South Sudan will select some of the players who made them the highest-ranked team in Africa.
#2 - Angola
Having missed only one of the last ten World Cup editions and having recently won their twelfth African title, Angola — the team with the most African titles in history — are targeting their tenth appearance in the tournament.
This week, Catalan Josep Claros was reappointed as head coach and is expected to build on the team's recent success when they begin their World Cup qualifiers campaign in February 2026, facing Group D opponents Egypt, Mali and Uganda.
#1 - Senegal
When discussing the powerhouses of African basketball, Senegal is often mentioned for legitimate reasons, starting with its pool of talented players and their physicality.
With an average height of 2.03 metres (6 feet 8 inches), Senegal was the tallest team in the last AfroBasket. Surprisingly, however, it was their smaller players — the guards Brancou Badio, Jean Jacques Boissy, Karim Mane and Babacar Diallo — who lifted the team to third place.
Senegal will open their World Cup African Qualifiers campaign in Group B in February 2026, alongside DR Congo, Madagascar and Côte d'Ivoire.
DISCLAIMER: The Power Rankings are completely subjective and in no way represent an official or precise ranking system. All comments reflect the author’s opinions.
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