When it comes to the Eurovision Song Contest, there have been 52 participating nations in the past – if you count Serbia & Montenegro and Yugoslavia as separate nations too. Therefore only three nations not to feature in the annual Eurovision Top 250 poll was a surprise to many. They were Andorro, Morocco and surprisingly Malta!

Andorra never qualified for a final during their six participations between 2004 and 2009 – therefore not a surprise that they didn’t feature in the annual poll. Andorra are also the only country not to appear in the final of the Contest.

Andorra’s best participation came in 2007, when Anonymous entered with the song “Salvem el mon”. Anonymous finished twelfth in the semi final – the closest the nation got to a final.

Video: YouTube/EBU

Morocco only participated in the Contest once – 1980 to be precise. Samira Bensaid finished 18th, with the entry “Bitaqat Hob”. Samira scored seven points, one point ahead of Finland who finished in last place.

Video: YouTube/SamiraVideo

Malta is the surprise exclusion from the Eurovision Top 250 this year. The country has seen two second places and two third places in their history at the Contest. The absence from the poll maybe due to the fact that they last qualified for the final back in 2016.

2005 witnessed Malta’s most recent second place. Chiara took to the stage with her entry “Angel” – losing out to Greece and Helena Paparizou.

Video: YouTube/EBU

Do you think we will see these countries back in the Eurovision Top 250 again next year? Let us know!

Author: Richard Taylor

Source: Eurovision Ireland