Morocco leads Africa in FIFA rankings at 12th position globally with 1694.24 points. Nigeria trails at 43rd position

Key takeaways

  • Morocco leads Africa in FIFA rankings with 1694.24 points, placing 12th globally, signalling its sustained excellence on the international stage.
  • Senegal (1630.32 pts) and Egypt (1518.79 pts) are the next top African teams, ranked 19th and 32nd globally, respectively.
  • The point gap between top teams is significant: Morocco leads Nigeria (1481.35 pts) by over 210 points, reflecting performance consistency.
  • Five of Africa’s top 10 teams are from North Africa, showcasing the region’s dominance in tactical strength and international success.

FIFA uses a revised Elo rating system, adopted in 2018, to rank teams based on match results, opponent strength, and match importance. A win against a high-ranking team in a competitive fixture (like a World Cup qualifier) yields more points than beating a lower-ranked team in a friendly.

In the latest ranking, Morocco’s 1694.24 points not only place it atop African teams but also earn it the 12th global spot, reflecting its performance across high-stakes matches. Nigeria, with 1481.35 points and 43rd globally, trails significantly behind top-tier African peers, underscoring a need for more consistent results in major competitions. These rankings highlight shifting power dynamics in African football, particularly the rise of North African teams.

Source:

FIFA

Period:

May 2025
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Following Senegal’s AFCON 25’ victory, West and North African countries now have the same number of titles (12)
  • West Africa now has 12 AFCON championships, equal to North Africa’s total after Senegal’s latest win.
  • Egypt is AFCON’s most successful nation with 7 titles.
  • Cameroon (5 titles) and Ghana (4) form the second tier of AFCON’s most successful teams.
  • 15 countries feature on the list of champions, reflecting sustained competitiveness.

Nigeria and Cameroon each rose 12 positions in the latest FIFA African soccer ranking
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  • Nigeria and Cameroon recorded the biggest jumps, each rising 12 positions.
  • Senegal is Africa’s second-best team at 12th in the world.
  • Algeria and Egypt continue to stay relevant at the top despite slower ranking movement.
  • DR Congo and Mali show strong upward momentum, reflecting growing competitiveness beyond the traditional giants.
  • Ghana’s position outside Africa’s top ten highlights the cost of inconsistent results.

Nigeria beats Egypt to win AFCON bronze medal, extending its record to nine third-place finishes
  • Nigeria extends its AFCON bronze medal wins to nine, the highest in men’s AFCON history, with another podium finish.
  • The win over Egypt highlights Nigeria’s resilience, turning late-stage setbacks into tangible success.
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Morocco is Africa's top soccer team, ranked 11th globally with 1716.34 points
  • Morocco’s male football team ranks 1st in Africa and 11th globally with 1713.12 points.
  • Senegal ranks 2nd and 19th in the world, confirming its strong international presence.
  • Egypt, Algeria, and Nigeria complete Africa’s top five, all within the global top 40.
  • The top 20 list includes teams from all major African regions.
  • Africa has 2 teams in the global top 20, 7 in the top 50, and 13 in the top 70.

Nigeria has lost only one of its 12 quarter-final matches in AFCON history
  • Nigeria has won 11 of its 12 AFCON quarter-final matches, losing only once (2008).
  • The only quarter-final defeat came against Ghana, highlighting the intensity of historic rivalries.
  • Most Nigerian wins were by narrow margins.
  • Nigeria has beaten a wide range of opponents at this stage, including Algeria, Senegal, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa.
  • Penalty shootouts feature twice, reflecting composure under extreme pressure.
  • Nigeria’s quarter-final success spans over 30 years, cutting across different generations of players.

Morocco is Africa's top soccer team, ranked 11th globally with 1716.34 points
  • Morocco’s male football team ranks 1st in Africa and 11th globally with 1713.12 points.
  • Senegal ranks 2nd and 19th in the world, confirming its strong international presence.
  • Egypt, Algeria, and Nigeria complete Africa’s top five, all within the global top 40.
  • The top 20 list includes teams from all major African regions.
  • Africa has 2 teams in the global top 20, 7 in the top 50, and 13 in the top 70.

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