Morocco remains firmly in its 64th position in the global FIFA rankings, but has experienced a notable drop of 17.53 points since June. The latest rankings released on Tuesday highlight a shift in the African football hierarchy, just two months following a Women's Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) held in the Kingdom, which has left its mark on the standings.
On August 12, Cameroon dashed the hopes of the Atlas Lionesses by defeating them in the semi-finals of the CAN hosted in Rabat. Now, two months later, the Cameroonian team has also overtaken Morocco in the FIFA rankings. The newly crowned African champions have risen nine places to secure the 62nd position globally, surpassing Morocco, which remains at 64th.
The gap in points has also widened significantly. According to the figures released on October 20, the Moroccan women's team has accumulated 1,384.71 points, a decrease from 1,402.24 points during the last update on June 16. This loss of 17.53 points has not only kept them in their global position but also distanced them from Cameroon.
The Indomitable Lionesses are reaping the rewards of their continental journey. Having eliminated Nigeria in the quarter-finals and then Morocco in a tense penalty shootout (0-0, 3-1), they went on to claim their first African title by defeating Malawi 3-0 in the final held on August 16 in Rabat.
The FIFA rankings underscore the significance of this CAN in its latest update, which is based on results from 183 international matches. Cameroon is among the African teams that have made the most significant progress in these rankings.
Morocco Holds Firm in Fourth Place in Africa
Despite being overtaken by Cameroon, the Atlas Lionesses maintain their fourth position in the African rankings. Nigeria remains the top African nation, holding the 43rd spot globally after a drop of seven places. South Africa follows in 59th position, ahead of Cameroon (62nd) and Morocco (64th).
Ghana, which previously ranked ahead of Morocco, has fallen five places to 65th globally. This shift allows Morocco to retain its fourth position in Africa, despite having a less favorable record compared to June.
The contrast with August 2023 is striking, when the Atlas Lionesses had surged 14 places in the FIFA rankings following their historic qualification for the World Cup round of 16, reaching the 58th position globally.
However, the CAN 2026 has provided them with another chance to qualify for the Women's World Cup. Morocco will be competing in the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, alongside Cameroon, Algeria, and Malawi, who were the four semi-finalists of the continental tournament.
The next FIFA women's ranking will be published on December 7, 2026. The Moroccan team will then have another opportunity to improve its points total and close the gap with the three African teams that precede them.
As reported by bladi.net.
