The first FIFA Rankings of 2026 were released the day after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals between Senegal and Morocco, where the West Africans won 1-0 thanks to Villareal’s Pape Gueye’s extra-time strike.
Morocco and Senegal had been the best-ranked teams on the continent ahead of the tournament and maintained their positions as the first and second, respectively, after proving why they are the best two.
Nigeria are among the biggest winners as they leap to third on the continent. Ghana remains outside the top 10, with Tunisia the biggest loser.
Analysis
The Atlas Lions moved three places from 11th place to eighth in the world rankings after winning six games in the 2025 AFCON. The win fetched the North Africans 20.22 points to help them move into the top 10.
African champions Senegal moved from 19th to 14th in the world after winning six and drawing one in the seven games they played in Morocco. Lions of Teranga are second in the CAF rankings
Nigeria are among the teams that jumped higher after moving 12 places higher. The Super Eagles are now the third-best-ranked team in Africa and the 26th in the world after a wonderful campaign in AFCON 2025 that earned them a bronze medal.
Algeria jumped six places higher to 28th in the world after reaching the quarter finals in the 2025 AFCON. The Fennec Foxes won 43.23 points in the four games they won in Morocco.
Egypt finished fourth in the tournament and moved four places higher. The Pharaohs are ranked 31st in the world and fifth in Africa.
Ivory Coast, ranked 6th in Africa, failed to defend its title in Morocco but still moved five places higher and occupies the 37th slot in the world.
The 7th-ranked team in Africa is Cameroon, which amassed 12 points in the AFCON. The Indomitable Lions added 41.96 points after the quarter-final finish in Morocco.
Tunisia moved six places backwards after a disastrous campaign in Morocco, where they won one, drew one and lost two games. The Eagles of Carthage lost 15.82 points, making them the only side to move more places backwards in the top 10 and also lose more points.
D.R. Congo, which reached around 16, moved eight places and is ranked 9th on the continent and 48th in the world after the not-so-bad campaign in the 2025 AFCON. The Leopards added 24.06 points after beating Sudan and Botswana and drawing against Senegal. The defeat against Algeria ended their campaign.
Mali, which did not win a single game in the five they played complete the top 10 on the continent. The Eagles moved a place backwards and sit 54th in the world rankings.
South Africa moved a place higher as they occupied 60th place. Bafana Bafana added six points and sits in 11th place on the continent.
Burkina Faso are the 12th best-ranked team in Africa, having won seven points from the Nations Cup.
Cape Verde, Ghana, and Guinea, who did not qualify for the AFCON, occupy the 13th, 14th and 15th places after neither getting nor losing a point.
The Top 15-ranked teams in Africa
- World rankings in bracket
1. Morocco (8th)
2. Senegal (14th)
3. Nigeria (26th)
4. Algeria (28)
5. Egypt (31st)
6. Ivory Coast (37th)
7. Cameroon (45th)
8. Tunisia (47th)
9. D.R. Congo (48th)
10. Mali (54th)
11. South Africa (60th)
12. Burkina Faso (62nd)
13. Cape Verde (67th)
14. Ghana (72nd)
15. Guinea (80th)
