The Super Eagles of Nigeria are still counting their blessings with the release of latest FIFA in January, 2026.
In it, Nigeria, AFCON 2025 bronze winner are placed third in Africa and 26th globally.
2025 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Morocco are now 8th globally, up 3 despite final setback, with first placement in Africa.
The north African nation can take comfort from returning to the top 10 for the first time since April 1998, reaching their best-ever position.
AFCON winners Senegal are 12th in the world, up 7 places and second in Africa. They have been rewarded for reclaiming the continental crown, scaling unprecedented heights of their own.
According to the ranking, Spain are 1st globally, Argentina 2nd, and France 3rd, continuing to set the pace.
Morocco’s ascent has come at a cost for Croatia (11th, down 1), who have dropped out of the top 10, as well as for Belgium (9th, down 1) and Germany (10th, down 1).
Cameroon (now 45th) shot up an unparalleled 12 places.
Additional ranking success stories served up by the African showpiece include notable rises for Algeria (28th, up 6), semi-finalists Egypt (31st, up 4), dethroned holders Côte d’Ivoire (37th, up 5) and Congo DR (48th, up 8).
Among the other talking points, Kosovo (79th, up 1) have yet again climbed into uncharted territory, inching up on this occasion thanks to Gabon falling eight places to 86th, whereas Costa Rica (51st, down 2) and Uzbekistan (52nd, also down 2) have both dropped out of the top 50.
The AFCON has also had an impact on the size of the respective confederations’ contingents in and around the upper echelons, with CAF now boasting nine nations in the top 50 – two more than at the end of 2025 – and the AFC and Concacaf having each lost one to fall to four apiece.
Home to 26 of the leading 50 teams in the global pecking order, UEFA continues to dominate, while CONMEBOL once again has seven representatives inside the top 50 with OFC sides remaining absent.
