The French tactician, who has closely followed the development of African football, said the standard of the continent’s leading teams has continued to improve, with the quartet standing out for their recent performances and overall progress.
Six made the assessment while speaking in an interview with Foot Africa, where he was asked to name the African teams currently making the strongest impression on him.
“Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, and Nigeria. The level of these teams is improving, and African football is advancing overall,” Six stated.
His assessment comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s strong performances in recent Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
The Super Eagles finished as runners-up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire before securing a bronze medal at the following edition in Morocco.
Nigeria’s recent individual successes have also added to the country’s growing profile on the continent.
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen was named African Footballer of the Year in 2023, while Atlético Madrid forward Ademola Lookman claimed the prestigious award the following year.
FIFA Rankings Back Six’s Assessment
The latest FIFA rankings also appear to support Six’s choice, with Morocco, Senegal, Egypt and Nigeria occupying the top four positions among African national teams.
Morocco’s emergence as one of the continent’s leading sides has been reinforced by its impressive performances on the international stage, while Senegal have maintained their status as one of Africa’s most competitive teams.
Egypt, with its long-standing pedigree and strong domestic football structure, remains another major force, while Nigeria’s recent AFCON performances and individual player achievements have kept the Super Eagles firmly among the continent’s elite.
Six’s comments therefore reflect both the current competitive strength of the four nations and the broader improvement he believes is taking place across African football.
With several African sides increasingly producing players capable of competing at the highest levels of European football, the former Nigeria coach believes the continent is continuing to close the gap in international football.
For Nigeria, being included among the four teams singled out by Six further underlines the Super Eagles’ status as one of Africa’s leading football nations.