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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Nigeria and Cameroon each rose 12 positions in the latest FIFA African soccer ranking
  • Morocco leads Africa and is ranked 8th globally.
  • 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.
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  • 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
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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.

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