7. Burkina Faso

Stability is a rare quality in African football federations, so it was a surprise to see the Burkinabe Football Federation keep Belgian manager Paul Put on board after he failed to get them to the World Cup. The West Africans only just missed out on the World Cup last year, but the continuity has helped along a natural progression that puts them in comfortable position to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. The Black Stallions fell short in their double confrontation to Gabon, but have a good enough squad to stave off a hobbling Angolan side.