The latest FIFA Men’s World Ranking, which was released just four days after the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON (African Cup of Nations) tournament, has highlighted significant movements among African teams that participated in the competition.
The ranking demonstrates the impact of recent continental tournaments on the global football landscape, with African teams making significant strides.
The Ivorian football team’s exceptional performance on their home turf saw them climb ten places to 39th in the world rankings, which reflects their impressive showing in the tournament.
While there were no changes in the top ten, several nations from the CAF (Confederation of African Football) regions made notable strides.
Nigeria, the runner-up in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, surged up 14 places to 28th, demonstrating their strong performance in the tournament.
It was evident that their remarkable performance in the tournament had an impact on their ranking.
It is worth mentioning that Angola made the most significant leap of all the African teams, climbing 24 spots to 93rd after their impressive run in the competition.
Their performance in the tournament brought them to uncharted territory in the rankings.
The rise to new heights in the rankings by some of the African sides coincided with Senegal’s breakthrough, with the Terangg Lions reaching their highest-ever position at 17th.
Despite their exit in the round of 16 against Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal’s strong performance in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON propelled them to new heights.
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Other African teams that saw notable improvements include Equatorial Guinea, who moved up nine spots to 79th, South Africa, who moved up eight spots to 58th, Cabo Verde, who moved up eight spots to 65th, Namibia, who moved up eight spots to 107th, and Mali, who moved up four spots to 47th.
As teams prepare for future competitions, including the TotlaEnergies CAF AFCON and World Cup qualifiers, these rankings are vital as they provide valuable insights into their current standing on the international stage.
The next edition of the FIFA Men’s World Ranking is scheduled to be published on 4 April, offering further updates on the evolving football landscape.
The African Top 20 in the FIFA rankings is led by Morocco, who is ranked 12th in the world, followed by Senegal at 17th, Nigeria at 28th, Egypt at 36th, and Cote d’Ivoire at 39th.
The African Top 20 in the FIFA rankings
1-Morocco (12th)
2-Senegal (17th)
3-Nigeria (28th)
4-Egypt (36th)
5-Cote d’Ivoire (39th)
6-Tunisia (41st)
7-Algeria (43rd)
8-Mali (47th)
9-Cameroon (51st)
10-South Africa (58th)
11-Burkina Faso (61st)
12-DR Congo (63rd)
13-Cape Verde (65th)
14-Ghana (67th)
15-Guinea (76th)
16-Equatorial Guinea (79th)
17-Gabon (84th)
18-Zambia (87th)
19-Uganda (92nd)
20-Angola (93rd)
