The just ended African Cup of Nations has generated a couple of big movements in the first edition of the 2022 FIFA Ranking with African champions Senegal and The Gambia making significant moves.
After a historic triumph in 2021 AFCON last weekend, Senegal achieved their highest-ever FIFA ranking position by climbing to the 18th position.
The Lions of Teranga gained 26 points to increase their points build-up from 1,561 to 1,587 points. They remain in the highest position on the continent.
Following an impressive run in their debut AFCON appearance that saw them progress to quarterfinals of the biannual tournament, The Gambia made the biggest jump in this month’s ranking.
The Scorpions climbed 25 place to sit at the 125th position on the global ranking and 33rd on the continental ranking.
Third-place winners Cameroon and runner-up Egypt also made significant moves in the top 50 after climbing 12 and 11 places respectively.
Cameroon now sit in the 38th position while Egypt are sit four places ahead at 34th.
Equatorial Guinea, who also reached the last eight at the AFCON, climbed 15 places ( and are now in the Top 100 (99th). Other notable rises in the top 100 include Malawi (119th), and Gabon (82nd).
For their part, Mali made more modest gains by moving five steps ahead and broke into the Top 50 at 48th position.
Meanwhile, Algeria have the biggest drop in places (minus 14 places) after a disappointing performance in the 2021 AFCON.
The former African champions dropped from 29th to 43rd on the global ranking and dropped from 3rd to 7th position on the continent.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 31 March 2022.
