Morocco have moved up to fifth in the latest FIFA men’s world ranking, matching a historic achievement previously reached by Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
The Atlas Lions moved above Brazil after the five-time world champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Australia.
Morocco’s rise to fifth means they have now reached the highest FIFA ranking ever achieved by an African national team, a position Nigeria first reached in 1994.
The Super Eagles climbed to fifth in April 1994 during a memorable period for Nigerian football. That year, Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations before making their World Cup debut in the United States.
Nigeria went on to reach the Round of 16 at USA 1994 before losing 2-1 to Italy after extra time.
It has taken 32 years for another African country to reach the same position.
Morocco’s latest rise comes during an impressive period for the national team. The Atlas Lions became the first African country to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2022 and followed that achievement with another strong performance at the 2026 World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals.
Morocco Move Above Brazil
The latest position is based on FIFA’s live ranking and is not yet official.
Morocco have 1,803.99 points in the current calculation, while Brazil have 1,802.90 points.
Brazil’s draw against Australia resulted in a drop in their points and allowed Morocco to move into fifth place.
The last official FIFA ranking, released on July 20, had Morocco in sixth position. FIFA’s next official ranking is expected on October 7.
Nigeria’s Current Situation
The development comes at a difficult time for the Super Eagles.
Nigeria entered the latest international window ranked 26th in the world, while Guinea-Bissau were ranked 132nd.
After beating Madagascar in their opening game, Nigeria suffered a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in Bissau.
The defeat does not directly explain Morocco’s move to fifth, as Brazil’s draw with Australia was responsible for Morocco’s rise.
However, it has provided a sharp contrast between the current situation of Nigerian football and the period when the Super Eagles held the African record on their own.
Morocco have now joined Nigeria at the highest position ever reached by an African team in the FIFA rankings, 32 years after the Super Eagles achieved the feat.
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