AFCON
Morocco enters 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as highest ranked team
Morocco will go for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023, as the highest ranked side in the tournament following Thursday’s release of the FIFA Rankings.
The Atlas Lions maintained their leadership position on the continent just three weeks before the tournament starts in Cote d’Ivoire.
This means they will go into Africa’s flagship sports competition as the highest ranked team for the ranking that is released every month.
It also means Morocco finish the year by maintaining their position as the leading African football nation as there were minimal changes in the last FIFA rankings for the year.
It is a massive confidence boost for the Atlas Lions for the upcoming TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations who were closely followed by Senegal and Tunisia.
Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and Burkina Faso complete the top ten countries.
This ranking provides an opportunity to reflect on the statistical performance of the continent’s teams, with a total of 231 matches played throughout the year.
Among these, 91 were friendly matches, 88 were related to CAF competition qualifiers, and 52 were for FIFA competition qualifications.
Algeria and Madagascar emerged as the most active national teams on the continent, each participating in 16 matches.
The full list includes a total of 53 African nations, with Eritrea not ranked due to inactivity for over four years.
Morocco’s consistent performance secured its top position in the continental rankings, reflecting a year of intense football activity across Africa.
As the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023, draws closer, football enthusiasts will eagerly anticipate how the ranking reflect on their teams’ performance in Cote d’Ivoire.
FIFA Rankings for Africa for December 2023
| Position on continent |
Country | Global Position |
| 1 | Morocco | 13 |
| 2 | Senegal | 20 |
| 3 | Tunisia | 28 |
| 4 | Algaria | 30 |
| 5 | Egypte | 33 |
| 6 | Nigeria | 42 |
| 7 | Cameroon | 46 |
| 8 | Côte d’Ivoire | 49 |
| 9 | Mali | 51 |
| 10 | Burkina Faso | 57 |
| 11 | Ghana | 61 |
| 12 | South Africa | 66 |
| 13 | DR Congo | 67 |
| 14 | Cape Verde | 73 |
| 15 | Guinea | 80 |
| 16 | Gabon | 82 |
| 17 | Zambie | 84 |
| 18 | Equatorial Guinea | 88 |
| 19 | Uganda | 92 |
| 20 | Benin | 97 |
| 21 | Guinea Bissau | 103 |
| 22 | Mauritania | 105 |
| 23 | Madagascar | 109 |
| 24 | Kenya | 110 |
| 25 | Mozambique | 111 |
| 26 | Congo | 112 |
| 27 | Namibia | 115 |
| 28 | Angola | 117 |
| 29 | Togo | 118 |
| 30 | Comoros | 119 |
| 31 | Libya | 120 |
| 32 | Tanzania | 121 |
| 33 | Malawi | 123 |
| 34 | Zimbabwe | 124 |
| 35 | Gambia | 126 |
| 36 | Sierra Leone | 127 |
| 37 | Sudan | 128 |
| 38 | Niger | 129 |
| 39 | Central African Republic | 131 |
| 40 | Rwanda | 133 |
| 41 | Burundi | 139 |
| 42 | Ethiopia | 144 |
| 43 | Botswana | 145 |
| 44 | Lesotho | 148 |
| 45 | Eswatini | 149 |
| 46 | Liberia | 153 |
| 47 | South Sudan | 166 |
| 48 | Mauritius | 177 |
| 49 | Chad | 181 |
| 50 | Sao Tomé and Principe | 191 |
| 51 | Djibouti | 192 |
| 52 | Somalia | 198 |
| 53 | Seychelles | 199 |
-CAF
Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe has praised Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for what he described as a powerful gesture of unity and reconciliation following the royal pardon granted to Senegalese supporters convicted over offences linked to the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In a statement released on Saturday, Motsepe expressed deep appreciation on behalf of CAF’s 54 member associations, hailing the Moroccan monarch’s decision as a demonstration of football’s ability to foster peace and solidarity across the continent.
“I would like to express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, for granting His Royal Pardon to the Senegalese supporters convicted of offences relating to the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025,” Motsepe stated.
The CAF president said the pardon reflected Morocco’s enduring commitment to African unity and highlighted football’s growing role as a bridge between nations and cultures.
“CAF has consistently emphasised its commitment to utilise football to contribute to uniting our people from different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds,” he said.
“The pardon by His Majesty King Mohammed VI is an uplifting and motivating illustration of the power of football to unite and bring our people together in Africa and worldwide.”
Motsepe also revealed that during recent visits to both Morocco and Senegal, he had been struck by the deep historical and cultural bonds shared by the two countries.
“I was amazed and impressed when I was briefed about the historic and extensive ties between the people of Senegal and Morocco,” he added.
The statement further reinforced Morocco’s rising influence within African football, especially after successfully hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and positioning itself as one of Africa’s leading football destinations ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Motsepe also extended CAF’s best wishes to Africa’s representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence that the continent’s teams would perform strongly on the global stage.
Among the African nations mentioned were Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
JOIN THE SPORTS VILLAGE SQUARE CHANNEL ON:
https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
By Kunle Solaja.
Former African champions Algeria and Zambia are set for an early showdown after the release of the Group I fixtures for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Algeria host Zambia on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, in what is expected to be one of the headline fixtures of the qualifying campaign, while Togo entertain Burundi in the group’s other opening tie.
The Desert Foxes are favourites to qualify, but Zambia’s growing consistency and Togo’s unpredictability could make the race highly competitive.
Algeria travel to Burundi on Matchday Two before facing Togo in back-to-back encounters across Matchdays Three and Four. Zambia also meet Burundi home and away during the same period.
The potentially decisive fixture comes on March 22, 2027, when Zambia host Algeria in a clash that could determine the final standings.
Group I Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Algeria vs Zambia
- Togo vs Burundi
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Zambia vs Togo
- Burundi vs Algeria
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Algeria vs Togo
- Zambia vs Burundi
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Togo vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Zambia
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Zambia vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Togo
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Togo vs Zambia
- Algeria vs Burundi
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
By Kunle Solaja.
African heavyweights Senegal will launch their quest for another Africa Cup of Nations appearance with a home clash against Mozambique in Group J of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Lions of Teranga, among the continent’s strongest teams in recent years, headline a group that also includes Sudan and Ethiopia.
Senegal host Mozambique on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, while Sudan tackle Ethiopia in the other opening encounter.
Senegal are strong favourites to dominate the group, but Sudan and Mozambique are expected to battle fiercely for qualification points.
The key fixtures may emerge in the double-header between Senegal and Sudan across Matchdays Three and Four, while Mozambique and Ethiopia also face each other home and away.
Senegal travel to Mozambique on Matchday Five before ending their campaign at home against Ethiopia on March 30, 2027.
Group J Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Senegal vs Mozambique
- Sudan vs Ethiopia
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Mozambique vs Sudan
- Ethiopia vs Senegal
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Senegal vs Sudan
- Mozambique vs Ethiopia
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Sudan vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Mozambique
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Mozambique vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Sudan
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Sudan vs Mozambique
- Senegal vs Ethiopia
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Nigeria’s Olympic Foes Arrive After Incredible 30-0 Aggregate Rout of Sudan
Akwa Ibom Celebrates Taekwondo Gold Medallist Udobong After National Open Trials Triumph
Iranian World Cup players will be able to enter US the day before matches, DHS says
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
NIGERIAN FOOTBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SANUSI CHARGES NIGERIAN COACHES TO BE UPRIGHT, DILIGENT
- World Cup1 week ago
Attack-minded Ivorians bullish ahead of World Cup return
- World Cup6 days ago
Rema, Davido, Burna Boy and Ayra Starr Make FIFA’s Star-Studded World Cup 2026 Official Album
- World Cup5 days ago
FIFA bans vuvuzelas from World Cup stadiums
- World Cup5 days ago
Shakira to Headline FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony in Mexico
- International Football2 days ago
Eriksen Suffers Fresh Collapse During Denmark Friendly, Reviving Memories of Euro 2020 Ordeal
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Soname Rewards Flamingos with N4.5m Goal Bonus After Guinea Rout
- World Cup1 week ago
Behold! Nigeria’s Gift to the World Cup: 11 Stars, No Super Eagles
- World Cup3 days ago
Pelé’s 1970 World Cup Hideaway Becomes Tourist Attraction as Mexico Hosts Tournament for Record Third Time