African Cup of Nations Vote: Which Team Has the Best Nickname

January 9th, 2008 | by: Daryl |

African Cup of Nations trophy held aloft One of the many great things about the African Cup of Nations are the team nicknames. Some inspire fear, others not so much. For example, would you rather play The Indomitable Lions or The Squirrels? Exactly. Read on for a complete list of all 16 team nicknames, and leave a vote for your favourite in the comments.

Angola – Palancas Negras (The Black Antelopes)

Benin – Les Ecureuils (The Squirrels)

Cameroon – The Indomitable Lions

Cote d’Ivore – Les Éléphants (The Elephants)

Egypt – The Pharaohs

Ghana – The Black Stars

Guinea – Syli Nationale (National Elephants)

Mali – Les Aigles (The Eagles)

Morocco – Lions de l’Atlas (The Atlas Lions)

Namibia – Brave Warriors

Nigeria – The Super Eagles

Senegal – Les Lions de la Teranga (Lions of Teranga)

South Africa – Bafana Bafana (The Boys, The Boys)

Sudan – Sokoor Al-Jediane (Desert Hawks)

Tunisia – Les Aigles de Carthage (The Eagles of Carthage)

Zambia – Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets)

Please leave a vote in the comments section for your favourite team nickname. Only rule is that you can’t vote for the team you support.

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Luis

South Africa – Bafana Bafana
http://france.worldcupblog.org Laurie

There are a lot of delightfully creative ones, but I have to go with Chris’s Indomitable Lions.

(P.S. Any word on watching the games?)
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Have called the New York office the last three days but no one is picking up. Also the answerphone says “voicemail full,” so I can’t leave a message. Have also written to them them using the form on http://www.telesud.us but got no reply.

Will keep trying though.
http://tunisia.worldcupblog.org/ Rami

I’m certainly biased since Les Aigles de Carthage sounds so badass to me. I think most things with the word Carthage in it are pretty badass anyways. Zambia’s Chipolopolo just rolls off the tongue though and I never knew it meant copper bullets so thank you Daryl. That being their main export I guess it makes sense. On another note, didn’t Mbeki or some other SA politician say something about getting rid of the Bafana Bafana nickname? I’m almost positive I read that somewhere recently.
http://canada.worldcupblog.org Sam

oh man. i like the squirrels, just cause, but i think my vote goes to the Copper Bullets.
Brad

Benin Squirrels. Cleverness, quickness, movement off the ball.
http://scotland.worldcupblog.org Ian

I have to go with Lions of the Atlas.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2204684616 Mike

there is just something about “The Black Stars” that just sounds so badass to me.
Andrew

Eagles of Carthage but there are some other good ones as well
mcdavidson

indomitable lions.That name is original and not a copy as the other names. I institutes respect for African football. A team should be able to defend their name and not to put it for fancy.The indomitable lions have defended their names for the past decade
http://www.capetownmagazine.com Molo Cape Town South Africa

Bafana Bafana means ‘the boys, the boys’. Regards from World Cup Host City Cape Town..

Molo
http://www.rabsworld.com Rab Bakari

Bafana Bafana has always rang well with me although it’s not my language or country!
Mafoya

You gotta love the squirrels (Benin)
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Rami,

You’re right. Thabo Mbeki was calling for South Africa to drop the Bafana Bafana nickname back in October:

“What kind of a name [Bafana Bafana] is it? I don’t think it is fit for a senior national team or for the hosts of the 2010 Fifa World Cup,” Mbeki told a South African radio station.

Can see his point, but it feels traditional now. Maybe if South Africa’s nickname wins this little vote-off on World Cup Blog then Mbeki will change his mind?
Lethepu

Indomitable Lions
vicki tanto

The indomitable Lions. These Lions are tougher than the Teranga lions… They are a special set of Lions with a name even difficult to call nick name. I love these Lions while performing. They are indomitable in their playing style, they’er decipline and accept defeat.
In fact,they’re indomitable
Siebenwurz

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Great name – great shirts – great team! Certainly the favourites to win the cup!
piit

the Atlas Lions: this nickname revives the now extinguished Atlas Lions!
Satyam

definately zambia’s Chipolopolo… it sounds really good! I may be biased because i lived there for the first 12 years of my life lol… but it really does rolls off your tongue and sounds good!
EnuguRangersFan

I respect Camerounian soccer as a rival to my favorite Super Eagles but this has nothing to do with how good or bad the team is. The name “Indomitable Lions” is unique, proud, regal and dare I say it INDOMITABLE!
mandisa

BAFANA BAFANA
bebe

chipolopolo for sure!!!!!!!!!! cpopper bullets.. gotta luv that
Sunugal

Les Lions Du Teranga……….We have the best nick name and meaning for that matter.
Teranga means hospitality which what Senegalese are known for.
Kagamz

I like the name DESERT HAWKS – powerful, quick and proud. Love Africa
Moh Jalloh

Syli Nationale (National Elephants)… That say it all, Hands down, the BEST Nickname in World Football for that matter! Not just big name players that can’t deliver. It’s not a threat to the known Giants in African and World Football, It’s a Promise “WE ARE COMING”. ..OOOPS, By the way we’re HERE!
Kalusha Bwalya

I have to go with Chipolopolo, and not just because its the couhtry of my screen name. Does anyone know a bar in NYC where we can watch the games?
bertha

chipolopolo of course the copper bullets.
killa

les lion de la teraguan 4 sho. but we changed it to mbarodi du senegal mbarodi = lion in Pulaar one of the language in senegal but its juts not popular as terengua so people just stick with terangua but mbarodi sound pretty bas as hell
vocalman

Super Eagles is it. How many animals can defile the law of gravity fly in the air. That is the reason i love the name eagles cos it’s unique and their style of play is sublime.
Truman

“The Pharaohs” remembers me with the ancient greatest civliztion