The 2023 AFCON has changed many teams’ places in the latest FIFA rankings released on Wednesday.
Nigeria was nowhere to be found before the AFCON but now has moved 14 places higher as they occupy third place on the continent’s rankings after winning 5 matches in the 2023 AFCON. 47.83 points have been added to Nigeria’s points which has shot them up.
Morocco and Senegal remain first and second on the continent rankings as Atlas Lions’ 2.22 points gained from the AFCON has helped them move to 12th place in the world rankings. The Lions of Teranga added 27.07 points after winning 3 games in the tournament as they sit 2nd on the African rankings.
Egypt has moved 3 places backwards after failing to win a single game in the 2023 AFCON as they now occupy 36th position in the world but 4th in Africa.
Ivory Coast’s triumph has moved them to 5th in the African continent. North African giants Tunisia and Algeria have moved 13 places backwards with Cameroon also failing to progress after the Round 16 exit.
Mali and South Africa both made huge strides as Mali occupy 8th place and South Africa occupies 10th position on the African rankings after performing well in Ivory Coast.
The biggest jump is Angola’s 24 places movement after dazzling in the 2023 AFCON. The Palancas Negras convincingly defeated Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Namibia in CAN 2023.
Angola is now ranked 20 on the continent and 93 worldwide after gaining 72.83 points which is the biggest points won by any country in the February rankings.
Cape Verde is ranked 13th after 47.26 points were added. The Blue Sharks beat Ghana, Mozambique and Mauritania in the just-ended AFCON.
Ghana is moving backwards after failing in Ivory Coast. Ghana was deducted 21.62 points which has pushed them to 14th on the continent and 67th in the world.
Equatorial Guinea is one of the biggest winners of the 2023 AFCON as they have moved 9 places from 88th to 79th in the world rankings. Equatorial Guinea massacred both Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast in the AFCON. These two victories have moved the Nzala Nacional to 16th in the CAF rankings.
Djibouti, Somalia and Seychelles remain Africa’s worst-ranked teams as they occupy 192,198 and 199 positions respectively by FIFA.
Top 20 Africa teams of the February Coca-Cola FIFA rankings
1. Morocco
2. Senegal
3. Nigeria
4. Egypt
5. Ivory Coast
6. Tunisia
7. Algeria
8. Mali
9. Cameroon
10. South Africa
11. Burkina Faso
12. Dr Congo
13. Cape Verde
14. Ghana
15. Guinea
16. Equatorial Guinea
17. Gabon
18. Zambia
19. Uganda
20. Angola
