CAF 2025 club rankings: Chiefs in shocking position as Pirates, Sundowns improve

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CAF 2025 club rankings: Chiefs in shocking position as Pirates, Sundowns improve

Mamelodi Sundowns remain the top ranked South African club in Africa but Kaizer Chiefs’ years of struggle have seen them drop off badly.

Sundowns have been at least in the quarter-final of the CAF Champions League in the last seven seasons and their good performances have seen them move higher up the rankings.

As per the rankings released by CAF on Friday, Sundowns, who reached last season’s Champions League final before losing to Egyptian club Pyramids, are now the second-placed club in Africa with only record winners Al Ahly better than them.

Sundowns have 62 points, 16 less than 12-time winners Al Ahly, who they eliminated in last season’s semi-final.

Gallants ranked better than Chiefs in Africa

Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates have moved to 15th place on the rankings thanks to their impressive run in the Champions League last season, when they reached the semi-final, before falling to eventual winners Pyramids.

Pirates have 30 points, same as Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca. Stellenbosch are the third best ranked South African club in Africa, sitting at position 21 on the continent with 15 points, thanks to their historic run to last season’s CAF Confederation Cup semi-final.

Surprisingly, Marumo Gallants are ranked higher than Chiefs as they are no.31 with nine points, largely driven by their shock run to the Confederation Cup semi-final in 2023.

Chiefs are down in position 50, making them the fifth-best ranked South African team on the continent, with their struggles in the league, which has seen them fail to qualify for continental competitions, hugely impacting their rankings.

Which other SA club is on the CAF list?

Sekhukhune United

The Glamour Boys last featured in a CAF competition in the 2020-21 season, when they reached the Champions League final, and their failure to qualify since has seen them drop down the rankings but have a chance to move higher up in the 2025-26 season as they are set to feature in the Confederation Cup thanks to their Nedbank Cup win.

Chiefs have just five points on the list with other South African clubs being Sekhukhune United (51), AmaZulu (55) and SuperSport United (now Siwelele FC) in position 63.

The top 10 clubs in Africa also include Esperance, RS Berkane, Simba SC, Pyramids, Zamalek, Wydad, USM Alger and CR Belouizdad, who occupy third to 10th positions respectively. 

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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