Morocco's Historic Ascent in FIFA Rankings
In a remarkable turn of events following the ruling by the CAF Appeals Commission, which awarded Morocco the title of African champion, FIFA has officially recalibrated its rankings. The Lions of the Atlas have solidified their position at 8th in the world and are now poised to challenge Brazil for a higher spot. Meanwhile, Senegal has faced a decline in the rankings due to these developments, which have significantly impacted the football landscape.
The upcoming FIFA ranking update, set to be released on April 1, 2026, will reflect the legal conclusions drawn from the controversial final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025. The decision, made on March 17, 2026, declared Morocco the winner by a score of 3-0 after Senegalese players left the field prematurely, a move deemed unauthorized by the referee. This decision, backed by FIFA, has resulted in Morocco gaining an impressive 18.02 points, raising their overall score from 1736.57 to 1754.59 points.
Although Morocco remains mathematically in 8th place, this surge places them in close contention with historic football powerhouses. The Netherlands, currently ranked 7th, is just two points ahead with 1756.27 points, while Portugal and Brazil are within striking distance at 1760.38 and 1760.46 points, respectively. Moreover, Morocco has widened the gap with teams ranked just below them, including Belgium (9th) at 1730.71 points and Germany (10th) at 1724.15 points. This positions Morocco as the second-highest ranked African nation in history, trailing only behind Nigeria's historical 5th place in 1994.
Senegal's Setback and Morocco's Upcoming Challenges
For Senegal, the consequences of the final's ruling have been harsh. Initially, after the match, the Lions of Teranga experienced a significant boost, climbing seven places to their highest-ever ranking of 12th. However, with the match now recorded as a forfeit, Senegal has fallen back to 14th place in the global standings. This update speaks volumes about Morocco's consistent performance, which includes five consecutive wins and a defensive solidity that has become a continental benchmark since the 2022 World Cup.
Looking ahead, the Moroccan national team under coach Mohamed Ouahbi has a historic opportunity on the horizon. They are set to play two crucial friendly matches following the AFCON: the first on March 27 against Ecuador at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, followed by a match against Paraguay on March 31 at the Bollaert-Delelis Stadium in Lens. Success in these encounters could mathematically secure Morocco's place in the top 5 of the FIFA rankings as early as April, potentially surpassing Brazil in the process.
As reported by medias24.com.
