Morocco tops Africa Cup of Nations rankings
Dar es Salaam. Morocco is heading into the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2023 as the continent's highest-ranked team, according to the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday.
Just three weeks before the tournament kicks off in Ivory Coast, the Atlas Lions retained their position as Africa's footballing kingpins, sending a strong message to their rivals. This means Morocco not only enters the tournament as the top dog but also ends the year as the undisputed champion of African football, thanks to minimal movement in the year's final rankings.
This top ranking is a massive confidence boost for the Atlas Lions, who will be closely followed by familiar foes Senegal and Tunisia. Rounding out the top ten are Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast (the host nation), Mali, and Burkina Faso.
But the rankings offer more than just bragging rights. They provide a snapshot of the continent's footballing landscape, highlighting a year of intense activity with 231 matches played across various competitions. Of these, 91 were friendly matches, 88 were CAF competition qualifiers, and 52 were FIFA competition qualifiers.
Algeria and Madagascar emerged as the continent's most active teams, each playing in 16 matches. Notably, the full list includes all 53 African nations, except for Eritrea, which remains unranked due to inactivity over the past four years.
Morocco's consistent performance throughout the year has earned them the top spot, showcasing the team's dedication and skill. As the Africa Cup of Nations approaches, football enthusiasts worldwide are eager to see how these rankings translate into actual performance on the pitch.
Will the Atlas Lions roar to victory in Ivory Coast? Or will a new champion rise to challenge their reign?
