Australian rules football in Africa is most organised in South Africa, although there are programs under development in many African nations including Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe and there are plans to introduce the sport into more African countries.
Immigration to Australia saw a rise in the number of Africans playing in the Australian Football League, among the first were African-Americans like Tom Banks and South Africans including Aubrey MacKenzie and Damien Cupido.
Kevin Sheedy predicted an African future for the AFL when he recruited Ethiopian Goaner Tutlan in 2004. The success of Majak Daw saw a rise in the popularity of AFL among South Sudanese migrantsDaw-inspiring feats bring Sudan into the heart of Aussie sport The Australian 20 Apr 2013 which have attracted the attention of AFL recruiters in search for the combination of height and athleticism.Neil Cordy for Code Sports 24 October 2022 An increasing number of players descended from the Indigenous peoples of Africa have played professionally in the Australian Football League, holding African Australian identity. Tall Sudanese players are now sought by AFL recruiters to fill key positions including the ruck.‘I’ve only been here four years and I’m better than you!’ How South Sudanese players are enriching the AFL By Greg Baum 28 May 2022
Botswana The government of Botswana approached the AFL in 2009 with a view to extending the FootyWILD program from South Africa across the border into Botswana. Australian football in South Africa began in the North West Province, an area bordering Botswana and with numerous cultural, linguistic and historical ties to the neighboring country.
Ethiopia While the sport hasn't been played in Ethiopia, the country is notable for producing AFL players from the migrant community in Australia.
Notable players
Player AFL/AFLW Years* AFL/AFLW Matches* AFL/AFLW Goals* Connections to Ethiopia, References Tew Jiath 2024- 1 0 Born Josh Draper 2024- 11 0 Mother Changkuoth Jiath 2018- 45 2 Born Mekelle Goaner Tutlan 2004 - - Born
Egypt Australian rules football was played by the ANZACs in Egypt during World War I. The sport has since been revived by Australian expats, with an Auskick program being started in Cairo. The Australian Embassy in Cairo has backed the program.
Notable players Player AFL/AFLW Years* AFL/AFLW Matches* AFL/AFLW Goals* Connections to Egypt, ReferencesAFL/AFLW Football club James Borlase 2023- 1 0 Born CairoJames BORLASE from Adelaide CrowsCrows' Next Generation Academy prospect James Borlase from The Advertiser 3 December 2020Adelaide Football Club Mac Andrew 2022- 10 0 Born CairoSuns to unleash the Mac attack: Prized No.5 pick to debut By Callum Twomey 28 July 2022Gold Coast Suns Ahmed Saad 2012-2015 33 48 Parents St Kilda Football Club
Ghana Australian football was played on a non-organised level in Ghana in 2007, where traveling Australians played with children.
In early 2009, AFL club the Western Bulldogs announced that they were in talks with Azumah Nelson regarding the introduction of Australian rules football at the Azumah Nelson Foundation (AZNEF) Sports Academy. Nelson was quoted as saying "Once we become familiar with handling the oval shaped ball, I am sure that Ghana will produce many champions for the AFL Clubs in Australia"Bulldogs look to forge ties in Ghana – Herald Sun The Bulldogs also stated that they may travel to Ghana to visit the AZNEF Sports Academy in future.
Notable players
Player AFL/AFLW Years* AFL/AFLW Matches* AFL/AFLW Goals* Connections to Ghana, References Brandon Walker 2021- 37 1 Born Connor Idun 2019- 39 0 FatherCool Connor standing out down back from the Geelong Advertiser 12 July 2018 Isaac Quaynor 2019- 71 3 FatherA taste of Richmond, but Collingwood looms for Quaynor by Daniel Cherny for The Age 16 November 2018‘Not OK’: Collingwood seek to correct dearth of Indigenous players by Michael Gleeson for The Age 1 February 2021 Joel Amartey 2018- 17 16 Father
Kenya There have been efforts to start the sport at junior level since 2004. Gus Horsey from the Baltimore Washington Eagles from the United States Australian Football League visited the country in February and September, running several footy clinics and organising a grand final between four local teams in Nairobi. During Horsey's second visit to Kenya to coach Australian rules, he regularly trained over 100 children after school with help from local soccer coaches, although plans through USFooty Kids to continue the clinics in the future did not go ahead.
The AFL reported in 2009 that junior clinics were being conducted in Kenya under the same model as FootyWILD in South Africa.
In 2015, schoolboys international matches were held on the Kenya-Tanzania border.Dust to dust: footy takes off in Africa Conor Walsh on 23 Aug 2015
Notable players
Player AFL/AFLW Years* AFL/AFLW Matches* AFL/AFLW Goals* Connections to Kenya, References Sebit Kuek 2022-2024 0 0 Born Elaine Grigg 2024- 3 0 Born'I just love footy': Kenyan-born talent relishing junior opportunities By Sarah Black 3 July 2023 Leek Aleer 2022- 3 0 Born Bigoa Nyuon 2022-2024 4 0 Born NairobiMum's journey inspires Sudanese refugee Biggie Nyuon towards AFL dream Sean Sowerby 7NEWS 20 November 2019 Sophie McDonald 2020- 26 0 Parent Tony Olango 2017 - - BornOpposites attract for Kenyan-born ruck talent By Marc McGowan 27 November 2017 Aliir Aliir 2014- 114 5 Born Kakuma
Malawi Educaring Africa ran clinics Ntakataka Village in Monkey Bay in 2019.Educaring Africa – Kicking Goals in Malawi 14 November 2019
Nigeria While the sport hasn't been played in Nigeria, some AFL players from the migrant community in Australia have strong connections to the country.
Notable players
Player AFL/AFLW Years* AFL/AFLW Matches* AFL/AFLW Goals* Connections to Nigeria, References Stefan Okunbor 2023- - - Parents Joel Wilkinson 2011-2013 26 1 Father
Senegal Australian rules football was played sporadically in Senegal during the 1990s, after Darwin-based Mark Moretti visited Dakar for two months in 1991. Moretti had introduced the sport to local children originally as an example of overseas culture, but there was interest from both the children and some local soccer administrators in continuing the sport. When Moretti returned in 1997 there had not been any progress, so he organised some footballs and other material to be sent to Senegal and the country was represented at the International Australian Football Council AGM in Darwin in 1999. Around this time, two teams were established, named the Crocodiles and the Hares, but the sport has since disappeared in the country.
A team representing Senegal appeared at the "World 9s" in Catalonia in 2008, consisting of Senegalese nationals resident in Spain and competing in the Catalan AFL.
Collingwood FC recruited 202cm Senegalese basketballer Bassirou Faye as an international rookie in 2021.
South Africa
The Witwatersrand Gold Rush brought miners from Australia to South Africa and records indicate that it was played from the 1880s to 1909 and was for a time during 1904, the most popular football code in the colony. It was reintroduced by the Australian Defence Force in 1997 and in the 2000s became one of the fastest growing places for the sport outside of Australia, becoming widely played in the North West Province with tens of thousands of players. The governing body is AFL South Africa. Prominent South African born AFL players include Damian Cupido and Jason Johannisen.
Sudan While the sport hasn't been played in Sudan, the country is notable for producing AFL players from the migrant community in Australia.
Notable players
Player AFL/AFLW Years* AFL/AFLW Matches* AFL/AFLW Goals* Connections to Sudan, References Domanic Akuei 2022- - - BornSudan, Egypt, Carlton: Why Dom is always daring to dream By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media 24 May 2023 Bigoa Nyuon 2022-2024 4 0 ParentsMum's journey inspires Sudanese refugee Biggie Nyuon towards AFL dream Sean Sowerby 7NEWS 20 November 2019 Mac Andrew 2022- 10 0 ParentsSuns to unleash the Mac attack: Prized No.5 pick to debut By Callum Twomey 28 July 2022 Tarir Bayok 2020 - - BornTarir Bayok West Coast Eagles draftee Buku Khamis 2019- 9 6 Born Tony Olango 2017 - - ParentsOpposites attract for Kenyan-born ruck talent By Marc McGowan 27 November 2017 Majak Daw 2011-2022 54 43 Born Khartoum
South Sudan While the sport hasn't been played in South Sudan, the country is notable for producing many AFL players from the migrant community in Australia. A team representing South Sudan has won the World 9s twice most recently in 2021.South Sudan AFL International
Notable players
Player AFL/AFLW Years* AFL/AFLW Matches* AFL/AFLW Goals* Connections to South Sudan, References Luamon Lual 2025- 12 4 Parents Sebit Kuek 2022-2024 0 0 Born Tew Jiath 2024- 1 0 Parents Bigoa Nyuon 2022-2024 4 0 ParentsMum's journey inspires Sudanese refugee Biggie Nyuon towards AFL dream Sean Sowerby 7NEWS 20 November 2019 Mac Andrew 2022- 10 0 ParentsSuns to unleash the Mac attack: Prized No.5 pick to debut By Callum Twomey 28 July 2022 Leek Aleer 2022- 3 0 Parents Martin Frederick 2021- 14 2 Parents Michael Frederick 2020- 48 58 Parents Tom Jok 2019- 1 0 Born NasirRookie pick: Tom Jok By Julian Trantino for Essendon FC 23 November 2018 Changkuoth Jiath 2018- 45 2 Parents Akec Makur Chuot 2017- 33 2 Born Yirol Mabior Chol 2016- 56 75 Born Reuben William 2016-2017 3 0 Born Wau Gach Nyuon 2016-2017 - - Born, parentsSudanese rookie marks new era for Essendon 22 December 2015 Aliir Aliir 2014- 114 5 Parents
Uganda Non-organised Australian football at junior level featuring locals has been played in Uganda in 2006.
Western Sahara Australian football was played on an informal basis in Western Sahara in 2008.
Zimbabwe The sport of Australian rules football was in its early stages of development in Zimbabwe in 2008, with Australian Football Zimbabwe in the planning stage, with its main aims being to combine Aussie rules football as a developing sport, with health clinics and information sessions to be run to assist disadvantaged and sick children.
In 2020, AFL Zimbabwe was formed as the governing body for the sport in Zimbabwe.
Notable players
Player AFL/AFLW Years* AFL/AFLW Matches* AFL/AFLW Goals* Connections to Zimbabwe, References Tendai Mzungu 2011-2017 105 55 FatherWho is… Tendai Mzungu? Ian Perrie 1998-2007 116 129 Born
Other AFL nationalities An increasing number of players descended from the Indigenous peoples of Africa have played professionally in the Australian Football League, holding African Australian identity. The successful career of Majak Daw in the AFL is credited as having inspired many children from the South Sudanese migrant community in Australia to take up the sport.Daw-inspiring feats bring Sudan into the heart of Aussie sport The Australian 20 Apr 2013
Player AFL/AFLW Years* AFL/AFLW Matches* AFL/AFLW Goals* Connections to Africa, References Héritier Lumumba 2005-2016 223 30 Congolese-Angolan father
Team Africa at the International Cup A team known as Team Africa, drawn from various Melbourne African communities, competed in the 2008 Australian Football International Cup's Multicultural Challenge, playing matches against South Africa, Tonga and an Asian community side dubbed Team Asia.
Team Africa's players were from countries including Somalia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Djibouti.
References