AFCON Domestic Players chart. Photo; Courtesy
As Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) continues today after Christmas break, new data from squad lists reveals a growing reliance on players based in domestic leagues across the continent.
South Africa leads all nations with 21 home based players selected from the SA Premiership, the highest number among AFCON teams. The selection reflects increased confidence in the quality and competitiveness of the country’s top-flight league.
Egypt follows with 18 players drawn from the Egyptian Premier League, continuing a long standing tradition of strong domestic representation in the Pharaohs’ national setup. Tanzania ranks third with 15 players, underlining the steady improvement of the Tanzanian Premier League in recent seasons.
Zambia and Tunisia also feature prominently, contributing 14 and 13 domestic players respectively, while Zimbabwe accounts for 12 players from its local league. Angola’s Girabola supplies 11, and DR Congo’s Linafoot has 10 players included in the national squad.
Namibia and Uganda complete the top ten, with 9 and 8 players respectively selected from their domestic competitions.
The trend points to a broader shift in African football, where national team coaches are increasingly prioritizing players performing consistently in local leagues. Analysts suggest this approach could strengthen domestic competitions.
The strong presence of home based players signals a renewed emphasis on local development as teams aim for continental success.
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